CVE-2026-98438

mptcp: options: fix uninit-value in mptcp_write_data_fin

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 3.7 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

mptcp: options: fix uninit-value in mptcp_write_data_fin

When sending a DATA_FIN without data, and because the DATA_FIN occupies
1 octet of the connection-level sequence space [1], it is then required
to add a DSS mapping with specific values.

If the checksum has been negotiated, it also needs to be computed, and
included in the outgoing packet, and thus the initial csum data needs to
be reset to 0 as well. This is no longer the case since commit
cfcceb7a39fc ("tcp: shrink per-packet memset in __tcp_transmit_skb()"),
because the whole ext_copy structure is no longer zeroed by default.

This seems to be the only case where use_map is changed and set
afterwards, so initialising the csum field only in this case, along with
other fields for this specific case.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-457
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-908
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-457
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mptcp: options: fix uninit-value in mptcp_write_data_fin When sending a DATA_FIN without data, and because the DATA_FIN occupies 1 octet of the connection-level sequence space [1], it is then required to add a DSS mapping with specific values. If the checksum has been negotiated, it also needs to be computed, and included in the outgoing packet, and thus the initial csum data needs to be reset to 0 as well. This is no longer the case since commit cfcceb7a39fc ("tcp: shrink per-packet memset in __tcp_transmit_skb()"), because the whole ext_copy structure is no longer zeroed by default. This seems to be the only case where use_map is changed and set afterwards, so initialising the csum field only in this case, along with other fields for this specific case.
Title mptcp: options: fix uninit-value in mptcp_write_data_fin
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 19, 2026, 9:19 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 3:16 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:18 AM
Severity
Low
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM