CVE-2026-53224

sctp: validate embedded INIT chunk and address list lengths in cookie

Published Jun 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

sctp: validate embedded INIT chunk and address list lengths in cookie

sctp_unpack_cookie() only checked that the embedded INIT chunk length
did not exceed the remaining cookie payload, but did not ensure that the
INIT chunk is large enough to contain a complete INIT header.

A malformed COOKIE_ECHO can therefore carry a truncated INIT chunk whose
length field is smaller than sizeof(struct sctp_init_chunk). Later,
sctp_process_init() accesses INIT parameters unconditionally, which may
lead to out-of-bounds reads.

In addition, raw_addr_list_len is not fully validated against the
remaining cookie payload. When cookie authentication is disabled, an
attacker can supply an oversized raw_addr_list_len and cause
sctp_raw_to_bind_addrs() to read beyond the end of the cookie. The
address parser also lacks sufficient bounds checks for parameter headers
and lengths, allowing malformed address parameters to trigger
out-of-bounds reads.

Fix this by:

- requiring the embedded INIT chunk length to be at least sizeof(struct
sctp_init_chunk);
- validating that the INIT chunk and raw address list together fit
within the cookie payload;
- verifying sufficient data exists for each address parameter header and
payload before parsing it.

Note that sctp_verify_init() must be called after sctp_unpack_cookie()
and before sctp_process_init() when cookie authentication is disabled.
This will be addressed in a separate patch.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4904-1 linux-6.12 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8629-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8637-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8629-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8643-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8644-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8645-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8646-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8629-3 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8656-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8643-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8644-2 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8658-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8660-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8663-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8664-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA BaseOS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8643-3 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8658-2 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-2 Linux kernel (Low Latency) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8643-4 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8658-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8643-5 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8644-3 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8658-4 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-4 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8714-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8715-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8714-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8725-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8748-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8714-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8715-2 Linux kernel (AWS FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8725-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8661-5 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-3 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8850-1 Linux kernel (BlueField) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8911-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
CWE-200
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 9.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-805
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-119
CWE-200
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: validate embedded INIT chunk and address list lengths in cookie sctp_unpack_cookie() only checked that the embedded INIT chunk length did not exceed the remaining cookie payload, but did not ensure that the INIT chunk is large enough to contain a complete INIT header. A malformed COOKIE_ECHO can therefore carry a truncated INIT chunk whose length field is smaller than sizeof(struct sctp_init_chunk). Later, sctp_process_init() accesses INIT parameters unconditionally, which may lead to out-of-bounds reads. In addition, raw_addr_list_len is not fully validated against the remaining cookie payload. When cookie authentication is disabled, an attacker can supply an oversized raw_addr_list_len and cause sctp_raw_to_bind_addrs() to read beyond the end of the cookie. The address parser also lacks sufficient bounds checks for parameter headers and lengths, allowing malformed address parameters to trigger out-of-bounds reads. Fix this by: - requiring the embedded INIT chunk length to be at least sizeof(struct sctp_init_chunk); - validating that the INIT chunk and raw address list together fit within the cookie payload; - verifying sufficient data exists for each address parameter header and payload before parsing it. Note that sctp_verify_init() must be called after sctp_unpack_cookie() and before sctp_process_init() when cookie authentication is disabled. This will be addressed in a separate patch.
Title sctp: validate embedded INIT chunk and address list lengths in cookie
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 30, 2026, 12:26 PM
Reserved
Jun 9, 2026, 7:44 AM
Status
Modified
Published
Jun 25, 2026, 9:16 AM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:19 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jun 25, 2026, 12:00 AM