CVE-2026-97985

af_unix: Update last skb marker in manage_oob().

Published Sep 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
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.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4817-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-835
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description 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.
Title af_unix: Update last skb marker in manage_oob().
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 21, 2026, 12:53 PM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:18 AM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 25, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 21, 2026, 1:21 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Sep 25, 2026, 12:00 AM