Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

sctp: fix NULL deref on untransmitted RECONF completion

sctp_process_strreset_outreq(), sctp_process_strreset_addstrm_out() and
sctp_process_strreset_resp() complete a pending stream reconfiguration
request by stopping the reconf timer on the transport it was sent on:

t = asoc->strreset_chunk->transport;
if (timer_delete(&t->reconf_timer))
sctp_transport_put(t);

chunk->transport is assigned by __sctp_packet_append_chunk() when the
chunk is appended to an outbound packet, and sctp_outq_flush_ctrl() arms
the reconf timer at that same point. A request already published in
asoc->strreset_chunk but not yet transmitted has neither, so completing
it dereferences NULL.

Two ways to get there. sctp_send_asconf_del_ip() sets
asoc->src_out_of_asoc_ok without sending anything when the address being
removed is the association's last one, and sctp_outq_flush_ctrl() then
leaves every non-ASCONF control chunk queued; as only
sctp_process_asconf_ack() clears that flag, it persists. An unprivileged
process that removes such an address and then asks for a stream reset
panics the kernel from softirq. A peer needs neither ASCONF nor local
help: sctp_cmd_interpreter() uncorks the outqueue only once the whole
packet has been processed, so a reply built while walking a RECONF chunk
stays untransmitted for the rest of that walk, and one RECONF chunk
carrying [Incoming SSN Reset Request, Outgoing SSN Reset Request,
Response] -- or two RECONF chunks in one packet -- reaches the same
dereference.

KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x00000000000001e8-0x00000000000001ef]
RIP: 0010:timer_delete+0x67/0x110
Call Trace:
<IRQ>
sctp_process_strreset_addstrm_out (net/sctp/stream.c:832)
sctp_sf_do_reconf (net/sctp/sm_statefuns.c:4212)
sctp_do_sm (net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1172)
sctp_assoc_bh_rcv (net/sctp/associola.c:1044)
sctp_rcv (net/sctp/input.c:243)
ip_local_deliver (net/ipv4/ip_input.c:262)
process_backlog (net/core/dev.c:6680)
</IRQ>

A response can only acknowledge a request that was actually sent, so do
not match asoc->strreset_chunk while chunk->transport is NULL. Guarding
the lookup covers all three completion sites.
Published: 2026-09-11
Score: 7.5 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Kernel crash causing denial of service
Action: Apply Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The flaw occurs when an SCTP stream reconfiguration request has been queued but not yet transmitted and the completion routine deletes the reconfiguration timer. The code then dereferences a transport pointer that is NULL, causing a kernel panic. This results in an immediate loss of availability for the affected host, consistent with a denial‑of‑service condition. The weakness is a classic null pointer dereference (CWE-476).

Affected Systems

All Linux kernel installations that have SCTP support enabled – either compiled into the kernel or loaded as a module – are potentially affected. No specific kernel version is listed; any kernel build with generic SCTP code prior to the patched commit is vulnerable regardless of distribution.

Risk and Exploitability

With a CVSS score of 7.5 the vulnerability is classified as high severity. The EPSS score of less than 1 % indicates that exploitation is not widespread, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. Attackers can trigger the fault locally by removing the last IP address from an association without sending an ASCONF update, or remotely by sending crafted SCTP reset messages that are received by a vulnerable host. The result is a kernel panic and disruption of service. Based on the description, it is inferred that the attack can be launched from either local or remote contexts, with the remote scenario requiring the ability to send SCTP packets to the target.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 15, 2026 at 22:48 UTC.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply the latest kernel update that includes the SCTP null dereference fix.
  • If a kernel update cannot be applied immediately, disable SCTP support in the kernel configuration or unload the sctp kernel module to eliminate the vulnerable code path.
  • Block inbound SCTP traffic (port 132) with firewall rules so that reset and ASCONF packets cannot reach the vulnerable host.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on September 15, 2026 at 22:48 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
History

Mon, 14 Sep 2026 12:30:00 +0000


Sun, 13 Sep 2026 06:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}


Sat, 12 Sep 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.9, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important


Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: fix NULL deref on untransmitted RECONF completion sctp_process_strreset_outreq(), sctp_process_strreset_addstrm_out() and sctp_process_strreset_resp() complete a pending stream reconfiguration request by stopping the reconf timer on the transport it was sent on: t = asoc->strreset_chunk->transport; if (timer_delete(&t->reconf_timer)) sctp_transport_put(t); chunk->transport is assigned by __sctp_packet_append_chunk() when the chunk is appended to an outbound packet, and sctp_outq_flush_ctrl() arms the reconf timer at that same point. A request already published in asoc->strreset_chunk but not yet transmitted has neither, so completing it dereferences NULL. Two ways to get there. sctp_send_asconf_del_ip() sets asoc->src_out_of_asoc_ok without sending anything when the address being removed is the association's last one, and sctp_outq_flush_ctrl() then leaves every non-ASCONF control chunk queued; as only sctp_process_asconf_ack() clears that flag, it persists. An unprivileged process that removes such an address and then asks for a stream reset panics the kernel from softirq. A peer needs neither ASCONF nor local help: sctp_cmd_interpreter() uncorks the outqueue only once the whole packet has been processed, so a reply built while walking a RECONF chunk stays untransmitted for the rest of that walk, and one RECONF chunk carrying [Incoming SSN Reset Request, Outgoing SSN Reset Request, Response] -- or two RECONF chunks in one packet -- reaches the same dereference. KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x00000000000001e8-0x00000000000001ef] RIP: 0010:timer_delete+0x67/0x110 Call Trace: <IRQ> sctp_process_strreset_addstrm_out (net/sctp/stream.c:832) sctp_sf_do_reconf (net/sctp/sm_statefuns.c:4212) sctp_do_sm (net/sctp/sm_sideeffect.c:1172) sctp_assoc_bh_rcv (net/sctp/associola.c:1044) sctp_rcv (net/sctp/input.c:243) ip_local_deliver (net/ipv4/ip_input.c:262) process_backlog (net/core/dev.c:6680) </IRQ> A response can only acknowledge a request that was actually sent, so do not match asoc->strreset_chunk while chunk->transport is NULL. Guarding the lookup covers all three completion sites.
Title sctp: fix NULL deref on untransmitted RECONF completion
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-14T12:00:13.880Z

Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.711Z

Link: CVE-2026-89477

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-11T20:19:29.063

Modified: 2026-09-14T13:19:04.127

Link: CVE-2026-89477

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Important

Publid Date: 2026-09-11T19:43:33Z

Links: CVE-2026-89477 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-09-15T23:00:16Z

Weaknesses