CVE-2026-52989: nvmet-tcp: propagate nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec() errors to its callers

Severity: critical (CVSS 9.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.4% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-06-24 · updated 2026-08-21
Weakness: CWE-908

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet-tcp: propagate nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec() errors to its callers Currently, when nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec() detects an out-of-bounds PDU length or offset, it triggers nvmet_tcp_fatal_error(cmd->queue) and returns early. However, because the function returns void, the callers are entirely unaware that a fatal error has occurred and that the cmd->recv_msg.msg_iter was left uninitialized. Callers such as nvmet_tcp_handle_h2c_data_pdu() proceed to blindly overwrite the queue state with queue->rcv_state = NVMET_TCP_RECV_DATA Consequently, the socket receiving loop may attempt to read incoming network data into the uninitialized iterator. Fix this by shifting the error handling responsibility to the callers.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 5.10.250 before 5.11; from 5.15.200 before 5.16; from 6.1.163 before 6.1.175; from 6.6.124 before 6.6.141; from 6.12.70 before 6.12.91; from 6.18.10 before 6.18.33 — fixed in 5.11, 5.16, 6.1.175, 6.12.91, 6.18.33, 6.6.141

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 5.11, 5.16, 6.1.175, 6.12.91. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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