CVE-2026-97985 — af_unix: Update last skb marker in manage_oob().
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Update last skb marker in manage_oob(). Fahad Alharbi reported that blocking recv(MSG_PEEK) could hog CPU due to OOB skb. In the following cases, manage_oob() skips OOB skb(s) and returns NULL for the last recv(MSG_PEEK): socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0, sk); 1) skb -> OOB skb -> NULL send(sk[0], "ab", 2, MSG_OOB); recv(sk[1], buf, 0, MSG_PEEK); 2) skb -> consumed OOB skb -> NULL send(sk[0], "ab", 2, MSG_OOB); recv(sk[1], buf, 1, MSG_OOB); recv(sk[1], buf, 0, MSG_PEEK); 3) consumed OOB skb -> OOB skb -> NULL send(sk[0], "a", 1, MSG_OOB); recv(sk[1], buf, 0, MSG_OOB); send(sk[0], "b", 1, MSG_OOB); recv(sk[1], buf, 1, MSG_PEEK); Then, @copied is 0 in unix_stream_read_generic() (zero-length buffer, or non-OOB skb is not yet consumed), and unix_stream_data_wait() is called. However, it returns immediately because @last is not updated in unix_stream_read_generic(), and the thread busy-waits for a new skb. Let's update @last in manage_oob(). For MSG_PEEK, @last is updated with the skipped OOB, and for the non-peek case, @last matches the returned value (when !copied) because OOB is unlinked. Note that manage_oob() is inlined and no stack canary is added.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+1
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
≥ 22dd70eb2c3d754862964377a75abafd3167346b and < 0630bfc773d85ac44da05b2c5a037dbbd39301ab≥ 22dd70eb2c3d754862964377a75abafd3167346b and < f1816b3d7ce80dcf086bb68ff5ae6e09520ca1fa≥ 22dd70eb2c3d754862964377a75abafd3167346b and < fc62a26493a98a0424d9dae2eb92a1daa1321f65≥ 22dd70eb2c3d754862964377a75abafd3167346b and < 94fd4debd2e3a69cf93e766c8b328a810c228119version ae3f9e1221b31b18dbd4c4b85d08574996bbd973version ba0db4638525b8b054b3d546b45f7e473f477027version 022d81a709cd553bbe2db8675f8e824f4aee6284version 16dc252e7007547a7b72a2c21022ef81fb45e6a3 and 5 more≥ 5.15.157 and < 5.16≥ 6.1.88 and < 6.2≥ 6.6.29 and < 6.7≥ 6.8.8 and < 6.9version 6.9 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 15, 2026 → Oct 16, 2026 · 2 reading(s) · max 0.17%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Source status changed · → Received
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
4 on the record
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98430 RDMA/efa: Keep admin queues alive while IRQ is registered 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 2d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-97985 is "af_unix: Update last skb marker in manage_oob().", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.17% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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