CVE-2026-98929

macsec: initialize SecY before registering the netdevice

Published Oct 23, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 3.0 Low EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

macsec: initialize SecY before registering the netdevice

Creating a MACsec device with MAC offload over an LRO-capable lower
device triggers a warning in rtmsg_ifinfo_build_skb() when IPv4
forwarding is enabled by default.

register_netdevice() invokes inetdev_init(), which disables LRO and emits
a NETDEV_FEAT_CHANGE notification. This reaches macsec_fill_info() before
macsec_add_dev() initializes the SecY. key_len is still zero, so
macsec_fill_info() returns -EMSGSIZE and trips the WARN_ON in
rtmsg_ifinfo_build_skb(), even though the skb has enough space.

Even without the warning, notifications during registration can report
uninitialized SecY attributes, including the SCI. This ordering has existed
since the driver was introduced.

Initialize the SecY and apply the new-link attributes before registration.
Move MAC address inheritance into macsec_newlink() so the SCI can also be
initialized before registration-time notifications report it. Move the
per-CPU statistics and metadata destination allocation into ndo_init(),
and release partial allocations on failure.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
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
Weaknesses CWE-908
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 3.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:L'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-457
CWE-665
Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux linux
Vendors & Products Linux linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: macsec: initialize SecY before registering the netdevice Creating a MACsec device with MAC offload over an LRO-capable lower device triggers a warning in rtmsg_ifinfo_build_skb() when IPv4 forwarding is enabled by default. register_netdevice() invokes inetdev_init(), which disables LRO and emits a NETDEV_FEAT_CHANGE notification. This reaches macsec_fill_info() before macsec_add_dev() initializes the SecY. key_len is still zero, so macsec_fill_info() returns -EMSGSIZE and trips the WARN_ON in rtmsg_ifinfo_build_skb(), even though the skb has enough space. Even without the warning, notifications during registration can report uninitialized SecY attributes, including the SCI. This ordering has existed since the driver was introduced. Initialize the SecY and apply the new-link attributes before registration. Move MAC address inheritance into macsec_newlink() so the SCI can also be initialized before registration-time notifications report it. Move the per-CPU statistics and metadata destination allocation into ndo_init(), and release partial allocations on failure.
Title macsec: initialize SecY before registering the netdevice
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 23, 2026, 12:08 PM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 23, 2026, 1:17 PM
Modified
Oct 23, 2026, 1:17 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Oct 23, 2026, 12:00 AM