CVE-2026-80978

Status: ReceivedHigh (7.8)—

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

net: cap advertised IP tunnel headroom

IP tunnel devices derive their advertised needed_headroom from lower output devices. A stack of user-created devices can make the derived value larger than the 16-bit skb header offsets can represent. Once IP output reserves it, skb head expansion can wrap those offsets.

The runtime transmit path already caps a growing needed_headroom at 512. Apply the same cap when tunnel configuration publishes needed_headroom derived from a lower output device.

Capping the advertised value is safe: IP tunnel transmit still expands the skb when a packet needs more headroom. A nonsensical stacked configuration can therefore incur an extra reallocation, but it cannot publish an unbounded reservation to upper layers.

CVSS

Version: 3.1
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Base score: 7.8

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.13%
Percentile among all scored CVEs: 2
Score date: 10/5/2026

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

🎯 ATT&CK techniques

How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.

ExploitationT1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalationprivilege escalation85 %
Primary impactT1499.004 Application or System Exploitationimpact75 %
Secondary impactT1565.001 Stored Data Manipulationimpact60 %

Escalada de privilegios local (AV:L, PR:L, UI:N) en kernel Linux mediante manipulación de headroom en túneles IP causando corrupción de memoria (DoS o integridad de datos).

Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.

🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques

Threat Intelligence Program Restrict File and Directory Permissions Remote Data Storage Filter Network Traffic Execution Prevention Encrypt Sensitive Information

Affected technologies (1)

⚠ AI-inferred from the description — NVD hasn't analyzed this CVE yet, these aren't verified CPEs.

Linux — Linux Kernel^AI

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show

{
  "id": "CVE-2026-80978",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
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        "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
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          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
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          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "NONE",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
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  "published": "2026-09-11T20:19:04.143",
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      "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
    }
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  "vulnStatus": "Received",
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nnet: cap advertised IP tunnel headroom\n\nIP tunnel devices derive their advertised needed_headroom from lower\noutput devices. A stack of user-created devices can make the derived\nvalue larger than the 16-bit skb header offsets can represent. Once IP\noutput reserves it, skb head expansion can wrap those offsets.\n\nThe runtime transmit path already caps a growing needed_headroom at 512.\nApply the same cap when tunnel configuration publishes needed_headroom\nderived from a lower output device.\n\nCapping the advertised value is safe: IP tunnel transmit still expands\nthe skb when a packet needs more headroom. A nonsensical stacked\nconfiguration can therefore incur an extra reallocation, but it cannot\npublish an unbounded reservation to upper layers."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-09-14T13:18:52.650",
  "sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
}