CVE-2026-89537

SUNRPC: Reject short RFC 4121 MIC tokens in gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2

Published Sep 11, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 9.1 Critical EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

SUNRPC: Reject short RFC 4121 MIC tokens in gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2

gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2() reads the token ID at ptr[0..1], the flags
byte at ptr[2], and padding at ptr[3..7], then passes
ptr + GSS_KRB5_TOK_HDR_LEN and cksum_len to gss_krb5_mic_build_sg().
None of these accesses check read_token->len first.

The minimum safe token size is GSS_KRB5_TOK_HDR_LEN (16) plus
ctx->krb5e->cksum_len (12-24, depending on the enctype). All callers
accept shorter tokens from the wire:

- gss_unwrap_resp_integ() enforces only an upper bound
(offset + len <= rcv_buf->len) before allocating
mic.data = kmalloc(len) and passing it to gss_verify_mic().
A malicious NFS server can therefore supply a short checksum
opaque, producing a small slab allocation that the Kerberos MIC
verifier reads past.

- gss_validate() enforces only len <= RPC_MAX_AUTH_SIZE (400)
before passing the wire-supplied length to
gss_validate_seqno_mic(), which constructs a mic xdr_netobj
and calls gss_verify_mic().

- svcauth_gss_verify_header() enforces only
checksum.len >= XDR_UNIT (4 bytes) before dispatching to
gss_verify_mic().

- svcauth_gss_unwrap_integ() checks only that the checksum fits
in gsd->gsd_scratch.

Add a length guard at the top of gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2(), before any
ptr[] access or scatterlist construction. Well-formed MIC tokens from
gss_krb5_get_mic_v2() already have exactly GSS_KRB5_TOK_HDR_LEN +
cksum_len bytes, so valid traffic is unaffected.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4904-1 linux-6.12 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9002-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel 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
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/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-125
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 6.4, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: SUNRPC: Reject short RFC 4121 MIC tokens in gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2 gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2() reads the token ID at ptr[0..1], the flags byte at ptr[2], and padding at ptr[3..7], then passes ptr + GSS_KRB5_TOK_HDR_LEN and cksum_len to gss_krb5_mic_build_sg(). None of these accesses check read_token->len first. The minimum safe token size is GSS_KRB5_TOK_HDR_LEN (16) plus ctx->krb5e->cksum_len (12-24, depending on the enctype). All callers accept shorter tokens from the wire: - gss_unwrap_resp_integ() enforces only an upper bound (offset + len <= rcv_buf->len) before allocating mic.data = kmalloc(len) and passing it to gss_verify_mic(). A malicious NFS server can therefore supply a short checksum opaque, producing a small slab allocation that the Kerberos MIC verifier reads past. - gss_validate() enforces only len <= RPC_MAX_AUTH_SIZE (400) before passing the wire-supplied length to gss_validate_seqno_mic(), which constructs a mic xdr_netobj and calls gss_verify_mic(). - svcauth_gss_verify_header() enforces only checksum.len >= XDR_UNIT (4 bytes) before dispatching to gss_verify_mic(). - svcauth_gss_unwrap_integ() checks only that the checksum fits in gsd->gsd_scratch. Add a length guard at the top of gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2(), before any ptr[] access or scatterlist construction. Well-formed MIC tokens from gss_krb5_get_mic_v2() already have exactly GSS_KRB5_TOK_HDR_LEN + cksum_len bytes, so valid traffic is unaffected.
Title SUNRPC: Reject short RFC 4121 MIC tokens in gss_krb5_verify_mic_v2
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, 12:32 PM
Reserved
Sep 11, 2026, 7:38 PM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 11, 2026, 8:19 PM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:20 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 11, 2026, 7:44 PM