CVE-2026-6554

infinte loop in libpcap before 1.10.7

Published Sep 5, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
libpcap BPF interpreter treats the offset in the 'ja L' BPF instruction as a signed integer to implement looping via backward jumps, but it does not limit the number of loop iterations. A crafted filter program or the 'protochain' primitive used on a crafted network packet can cause the interpreter to loop infinitely.

Remediation

Vendor Solution

Upgrade to libpcap 1.10.7.


Vendor Workaround

Do not use filter programs that have been compiled outside of libpcap. Build libpcap without the 'protochain' primitive support.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description libpcap BPF interpreter treats the offset in the 'ja L' BPF instruction as a signed integer to implement looping via backward jumps, but it does not limit the number of loop iterations. In particular uncommon use cases a crafted filter program can cause the interpreter to loop infinitely. libpcap BPF interpreter treats the offset in the 'ja L' BPF instruction as a signed integer to implement looping via backward jumps, but it does not limit the number of loop iterations. A crafted filter program or the 'protochain' primitive used on a crafted network packet can cause the interpreter to loop infinitely.
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Tcpdump
Tcpdump libpcap
Vendors & Products Tcpdump
Tcpdump libpcap
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description libpcap BPF interpreter treats the offset in the 'ja L' BPF instruction as a signed integer to implement looping via backward jumps, but it does not limit the number of loop iterations. In particular uncommon use cases a crafted filter program can cause the interpreter to loop infinitely.
Title infinte loop in libpcap before 1.10.7
Weaknesses CWE-835
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Tcpdump
Published
Updated
Oct 22, 2026, 8:08 PM
Reserved
Apr 17, 2026, 10:00 PM
Status
Awaiting Analysis
Published
Sep 5, 2026, 7:16 PM
Modified
Oct 22, 2026, 9:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 5, 2026, 6:51 PM