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CVE Record

CVE-2026-22998: nvme-tcp: fix NULL pointer dereferences in nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec

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

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A remote, unauthenticated system can crash a vulnerable Linux NVMe-over-TCP storage target by sending data at an unexpected protocol stage. The demonstrated impact is service disruption, not data theft or modification. Risk is concentrated in systems operating the Linux NVMe/TCP target service and reachable by untrusted hosts.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority availability issue for exposed or business-critical NVMe/TCP storage targets. Patch those systems promptly and restrict network access immediately where updates require scheduling. Lower the priority for hosts confirmed not to provide NVMe/TCP target services. There is no supplied evidence of active exploitation or data compromise.

Technical view

The Linux nvmet-tcp target can pass uninitialized command pointers into nvmet_tcp_build_pdu_iovec. Crafted H2C_DATA PDUs may reach this path before CONNECT, against a READ command, or through an uninitialized command slot. Missing checks for cmd->req.sg and cmd->iov cause NULL-pointer dereferences and kernel panic. CVSS 3.1 is 7.5: remote, unauthenticated, low complexity, availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Likely exposure is limited to Linux hosts providing NVMe-over-TCP target functionality through nvmet-tcp. Network reachability materially increases risk. Hosts that do not enable this target service are unlikely to expose the vulnerable path. The supplied version data identifies affected releases but lacks clear range semantics, so distribution-specific package status should be verified.

Exploitation context

The source describes a remotely triggerable denial of service without privileges or user interaction. It documents several triggering protocol states, but provides no evidence of exploitation in the wild. CVE-2026-22998 is not identified as a CISA KEV entry in the supplied bundle. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are not claimed.

Researcher notes

Both cmd->req.sg and cmd->iov require validation because their initialization differs across uninitialized, READ, and WRITE command states. The issue is a kernel NULL-pointer dereference reachable through malformed or out-of-sequence H2C_DATA processing. The bundle supplies several stable-tree fixes, but its affected-version representation is ambiguous; validate backports using vendor advisories or commit inclusion rather than version assumptions alone.

Mitigation direction

  • Install a vendor-supported kernel update containing the referenced nvmet-tcp pointer-validation fix.
  • Prioritize reachable NVMe/TCP targets, especially storage infrastructure supporting critical workloads.
  • Restrict NVMe/TCP target access to explicitly authorized initiators and trusted network segments.
  • Disable unused NVMe/TCP target functionality until patched, following vendor operational guidance.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory hosts running kernels identified as affected in the CVE record.
  • Confirm whether nvmet-tcp target functionality is enabled or loaded on each host.
  • Identify NVMe/TCP listener exposure and verify network controls limit untrusted initiators.
  • Confirm the installed kernel includes the referenced stable fix through distribution advisories or package metadata.
  • Test service health after updating without sending malformed protocol traffic to production systems.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
9

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2026-22998 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
1ADP providers
8Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: yesTechnical Impact: partial

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H3.93.6Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-22998Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxf775f2621c2ac5cc3a0b3a64665dad4fb146e510, 4cb3cf7177ae3666be7fb27d4ad4d72a295fb02d, 2871aa407007f6f531fae181ad252486e022df42, 24e05760186dc070d3db190ca61efdbce23afc88, efa56305908ba20de2104f1b8508c6a7401833be, efa56305908ba20de2104f1b8508c6a7401833be, efa56305908ba20de2104f1b8508c6a7401833be, ee5e7632e981673f42a50ade25e71e612e543d9d, 70154e8d015c9b4fb56c1a2ef1fc8b83d45c7f68, 5.10.209, 5.15.148, 6.1.75, 6.6.14, 5.4.268, 6.7.2unaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 5.10.249, 5.15.199, 6.1.162, 6.6.122, 6.12.67, 6.18.7, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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