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

vxlan: initialize _md in vxlan_xmit_one()

If a VXLAN device is configured with both VXLAN_F_COLLECT_METADATA and
VXLAN_F_GBP, and a packet is transmitted through it using an external
ip_tunnel_info that lacks the IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT flag, md is left
pointing to the uninitialized _md stack variable:

if (test_bit(IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT, info->key.tun_flags)) {
if (info->options_len < sizeof(*md))
goto drop;
md = ip_tunnel_info_opts(info);
}

Because IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT is not set, md is not updated and remains
pointing to _md. Later, vxlan_build_skb() is called with md, which
eventually calls vxlan_build_gbp_hdr():

if (vxflags & VXLAN_F_GBP)
vxlan_build_gbp_hdr(vxh, md);

Inside vxlan_build_gbp_hdr(), md->gbp is read:

if (!md->gbp)
return;
gbp = (struct vxlanhdr_gbp *)vxh;
...
if (md->gbp & VXLAN_GBP_DONT_LEARN)
gbp->dont_learn = 1;

If the stack contains garbage, this causes:
1) VXLAN_HF_GBP flag to be spuriously set in the VXLAN header.
2) gbp->dont_learn and gbp->policy_applied to be set from stack bits.
3) gbp->policy_id to receive 16 bits of uninitialized kernel stack data,
leaking it onto the wire.

Fix this by zero-initializing _md. If IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT is not
present, md->gbp remains 0, and vxlan_build_gbp_hdr() returns early
without modifying the VXLAN header.
Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4817-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:15:00 +0000


Wed, 30 Sep 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-908
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 25 Sep 2026 18:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-788

Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vxlan: initialize _md in vxlan_xmit_one() If a VXLAN device is configured with both VXLAN_F_COLLECT_METADATA and VXLAN_F_GBP, and a packet is transmitted through it using an external ip_tunnel_info that lacks the IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT flag, md is left pointing to the uninitialized _md stack variable: if (test_bit(IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT, info->key.tun_flags)) { if (info->options_len < sizeof(*md)) goto drop; md = ip_tunnel_info_opts(info); } Because IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT is not set, md is not updated and remains pointing to _md. Later, vxlan_build_skb() is called with md, which eventually calls vxlan_build_gbp_hdr(): if (vxflags & VXLAN_F_GBP) vxlan_build_gbp_hdr(vxh, md); Inside vxlan_build_gbp_hdr(), md->gbp is read: if (!md->gbp) return; gbp = (struct vxlanhdr_gbp *)vxh; ... if (md->gbp & VXLAN_GBP_DONT_LEARN) gbp->dont_learn = 1; If the stack contains garbage, this causes: 1) VXLAN_HF_GBP flag to be spuriously set in the VXLAN header. 2) gbp->dont_learn and gbp->policy_applied to be set from stack bits. 3) gbp->policy_id to receive 16 bits of uninitialized kernel stack data, leaking it onto the wire. Fix this by zero-initializing _md. If IP_TUNNEL_VXLAN_OPT_BIT is not present, md->gbp remains 0, and vxlan_build_gbp_hdr() returns early without modifying the VXLAN header.
Title vxlan: initialize _md in vxlan_xmit_one()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-21T12:53:54.233Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:18:58.206Z

Link: CVE-2026-97965

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-25T11:17:24.293

Modified: 2026-10-21T13:21:17.963

Link: CVE-2026-97965

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-09-25T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-97965 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-01T04:45:12Z

Weaknesses