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

tcp: fix corruption of urgent data on multi-segment retransmit

On the normal xmit path, while in urgent mode we refuse to build a
multi-segment TSO packet, so every segment gets its own urg_ptr:

/* tcp_write_xmit() */
limit = mss_now;
if (tso_segs > 1 && !tcp_urg_mode(tp))
limit = tcp_mss_split_point(...);

The retransmit path has no such guard. __tcp_retransmit_skb() builds a
segs > 1 skb and hands it to the GSO layer, which only advances th->seq
per segment and copies urg_ptr verbatim:

/* __tcp_retransmit_skb() */
len = cur_mss * segs; /* segs > 1, no urg_mode check */
...
/* tcp_gso_segment(): bumps seq only, urg_ptr is copied */

urg_ptr is an offset from the segment's own seq, so a copied value points
at a different place on each segment. The receiver rebuilds the absolute
urgent seq as seg.seq + urg_ptr, so it walks a moving urgent point instead
of the one OOB byte:

seg1 seq 1 urg_ptr 5001 -> urgent @ 5001 (ok)
seg2 seq 1001 urg_ptr 5001 -> urgent @ 6001 (wrong, +MSS)
seg3 seq 2001 urg_ptr 5001 -> urgent @ 7001 (wrong, +2*MSS)

The real OOB byte is never pointed at, so the receiver stops splicing it
out and delivers it as normal in-band data, corrupting the stream.

Guard the retransmit length like the xmit path: keep segs = 1 while in
urgent mode.
Published: 2026-09-17
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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History

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: fix corruption of urgent data on multi-segment retransmit On the normal xmit path, while in urgent mode we refuse to build a multi-segment TSO packet, so every segment gets its own urg_ptr: /* tcp_write_xmit() */ limit = mss_now; if (tso_segs > 1 && !tcp_urg_mode(tp)) limit = tcp_mss_split_point(...); The retransmit path has no such guard. __tcp_retransmit_skb() builds a segs > 1 skb and hands it to the GSO layer, which only advances th->seq per segment and copies urg_ptr verbatim: /* __tcp_retransmit_skb() */ len = cur_mss * segs; /* segs > 1, no urg_mode check */ ... /* tcp_gso_segment(): bumps seq only, urg_ptr is copied */ urg_ptr is an offset from the segment's own seq, so a copied value points at a different place on each segment. The receiver rebuilds the absolute urgent seq as seg.seq + urg_ptr, so it walks a moving urgent point instead of the one OOB byte: seg1 seq 1 urg_ptr 5001 -> urgent @ 5001 (ok) seg2 seq 1001 urg_ptr 5001 -> urgent @ 6001 (wrong, +MSS) seg3 seq 2001 urg_ptr 5001 -> urgent @ 7001 (wrong, +2*MSS) The real OOB byte is never pointed at, so the receiver stops splicing it out and delivers it as normal in-band data, corrupting the stream. Guard the retransmit length like the xmit path: keep segs = 1 while in urgent mode.
Title tcp: fix corruption of urgent data on multi-segment retransmit
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: 2026-09-17T16:05:39.632Z

Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.783Z

Link: CVE-2026-90054

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-17T17:16:53.873

Modified: 2026-09-17T17:16:53.873

Link: CVE-2026-90054

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.