CVE-2026-90230: Linux Vulnerability (CVSS 9.1)

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet: fix heap out-of-bounds read in nvmet_auth_negotiate() nvmet_execute_auth_send() allocates the DH-HMAC-CHAP message buffer with the host-supplied transfer length (tl) and hands it to nvmet_auth_negotiate() without passing tl along. nvmet_auth_negotiate() then reads the negotiate header and, for each of the halen hash identifiers and dhlen DH group identifiers, indexes into the fixed idlist[60] array (hashes at idlist[0..halen), groups at idlist[30..]). Neither the transfer length nor halen/dhlen is validated. A malicious or non-conformant host can report a tl smaller than the negotiate structure, or a halen/dhlen larger than the array (both are u8, up to 255), making the loops read past the end of the allocated buffer (heap out-of-bounds read). The sibling nvmet_auth_reply() already validates tl against the structure size; the negotiate path did not. Pass tl into nvmet_auth_negotiate(), reject a tl that does not cover the negotiate data plus one full protocol descriptor, and reject halen/dhlen larger than NVME_AUTH_DHCHAP_MAX_DH_IDS.

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

9.1/10

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

Affected Software

Source: CNA advisory (CVE.org). NVD analysis pending.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux	>= db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821, < 89ff11b72f38976f3b5aea23a5228ee05e277209; >= db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821, < aaac783950b17c57df9b6f7344747cacb1a407ed; >= db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821, < c38a8186326799957d293d370136c128cd113916; >= db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821, < 7b81e4d2230e3d2d372c826180c4ef0efc244f31; >= db1312dd95488b5e6ff362ff66fcf953a46b1821, < 5bb96cc218835769ab74ec7f3ea2bf81fbffe955
Linux	Linux	6.0

References

Timeline

Published: Sep 17, 2026
Last Modified: Sep 18, 2026
Status: Received

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-90230?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet: fix heap out-of-bounds read in nvmet_auth_negotiate() nvmet_execute_auth_send() allocates the DH-HMAC-CHAP message buffer with the host-supplied transfer length (tl) and hands it to nvmet_auth_negotiate() without passing tl along. nvmet_auth_negotiate() then reads the negotiate header and, for each of the halen hash identifiers and dhlen DH group identifiers, indexes into the fixed idlist[60] array (hashes at idlist[0..halen), groups at idlist[30..]). Neither the transfer length nor halen/dhlen is validated. A malicious or non-conformant host can report a tl smaller than the negotiate structure, or a halen/dhlen larger than the array (both are u8, up to 255), making the loops read past the end of the allocated buffer (heap out-of-bounds read). The sibling nvmet_auth_reply() already validates tl against the structure size; the negotiate path did not. Pass tl into nvmet_auth_negotiate(), reject a tl that does not cover the negotiate data plus one full protocol descriptor, and reject halen/dhlen larger than NVME_AUTH_DHCHAP_MAX_DH_IDS.

How severe is CVE-2026-90230?

CVE-2026-90230 has a CVSS score of 9.1/10 (CRITICAL severity).

How do I fix CVE-2026-90230?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

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