CVE-2026-22998
nvme-tcp: fix NULL pointer dereferences in nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 7.5 High
- Published
- Jan 25, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 19, 2026
- Reserved
- Jan 13, 2026
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
nvme-tcp: fix NULL pointer dereferences in nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec
Commit efa56305908b ("nvmet-tcp: Fix a kernel panic when host sends an invalid H2C PDU length") added ttag bounds checking and data_offset validation in nvmet_tcp_handle_h2c_data_pdu(), but it did not validate whether the command's data structures (cmd->req.sg and cmd->iov) have been properly initialized before processing H2C_DATA PDUs.
The nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec() function dereferences these pointers without NULL checks. This can be triggered by sending H2C_DATA PDU immediately after the ICREQ/ICRESP handshake, before sending a CONNECT command or NVMe write command.
Attack vectors that trigger NULL pointer dereferences: 1. H2C_DATA PDU sent before CONNECT → both pointers NULL 2. H2C_DATA PDU for READ command → cmd->req.sg allocated, cmd->iov NULL 3. H2C_DATA PDU for uninitialized command slot → both pointers NULL
The fix validates both cmd->req.sg and cmd->iov before calling nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec(). Both checks are required because: - Uninitialized commands: both NULL - READ commands: cmd->req.sg allocated, cmd->iov NULL - WRITE commands: both allocated
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 7.5 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H | Linux |
Weaknesses
- CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
LinuxLinux |
|
LinuxLinux |
|
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/baabe43a0edefac8cd7b981ff87f967f6034dafe
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/76abc83a9d25593c2b7613c549413079c14a4686
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d75570002929d20e40110d6b03e46202c9d1bc7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fdecd3b6aac10d5a18d0dc500fe57f8648b66cd4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3def5243150716be86599c2a1767c29c68838b6d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/374b095e265fa27465f34780e0eb162ff1bef913
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/32b63acd78f577b332d976aa06b56e70d054cbba
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