CVE-2026-68299: vmxnet3: fix BUG_ON in vmxnet3_get_hdr_len() for Geneve packets

Severity: high (CVSS 7.5 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.5% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-08-10 · updated 2026-10-19
Weakness: CWE-20

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vmxnet3: fix BUG_ON in vmxnet3_get_hdr_len() for Geneve packets vmxnet3_get_hdr_len() assumes gdesc->rcd.v4/v6/tcp always describe the outer header, but for a Geneve-encapsulated packet the device can set them based on the inner header instead, signalled by the VMXNET3_RCD_HDR_INNER_SHIFT bit in the completion descriptor. Since the function never skips the outer encapsulation, this mismatch triggers: - BUG_ON(hdr.ipv4->protocol != IPPROTO_TCP), because the outer protocol is UDP (Geneve), not TCP. - BUG_ON(hdr.eth->h_proto != ...), when the tunnel's outer and inner IP versions differ (e.g. outer IPv6/inner IPv4 or vice versa). Check VMXNET3_RCD_HDR_INNER_SHIFT up front and bail out, since the function cannot locate the inner header it would need to parse. Also convert the remaining BUG_ON()s in this function to return 0 defensively.

Affected products

Linux kernel: 4.2 — fixed in 7.2

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 7.2. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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