Vulnerability · CVE-2026-89479
sctp: stop processing a packet once its association is deleted
Published Sep 11, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 17, 2026
- Severity
- Critical9.8
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.5%
- Remediation
- Not established
- Affected products
- Linux Kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: stop processing a packet once its association is deleted sctp_endpoint_bh_rcv() looks the association up only when chunk->asoc is NULL, and caches the result in chunk->asoc and chunk->transport without taking a reference. A packet that matches no association is handed to the endpoint, so a peer can bundle COOKIE ECHO, SHUTDOWN and SHUTDOWN ACK in one packet. The COOKIE ECHO creates the association, the SHUTDOWN chunk caches it, and with the outqueue empty the SHUTDOWN ACK reaches sctp_sf_do_9_2_final(), so the association and its transports are freed. The endpoint loop has no counterpart to the asoc->base.dead check in sctp_assoc_bh_rcv(). The next chunk writes to last_time_heard in the freed transport and is then passed to sctp_do_sm() with the freed association. The transport is freed through RCU, so this needs the packet to come off the socket backlog, where the loop runs in task context. The endpoint loop cannot do the same check: it holds no reference on the association, so reading asoc->base.dead would itself be a use-after-free. Mark the packet for discard in the command interpreter, just before it deletes the association. That is also before sctp_inq_free() releases the chunk on the association receive path. sctp_sf_do_5_2_4_dupcook() issues SCTP_CMD_DELETE_TCB for the temporary association, while the one the packet belongs to stays alive. A restarting peer can bundle DATA behind its COOKIE ECHO, so compare against chunk->asoc and leave that case alone.
Technical analysis
Mechanism and impact are interpreted from ingested advisories — not independent exploit research.
CWE classification
No CWE identifiers stored yet.
Prerequisites and impact
Follow the original vendor advisory for access prerequisites and impact. This catalog does not invent exploit conditions.
How to fix CVE-2026-89479
Recommended remediation
No required-action text, fix commit, or clear fixed-version range is stored yet.
Official advisories
Grounded briefings
Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.
Executive
CVE-2026-89479 is a critical public vulnerability record for this product. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.
System administrator
Identify whether this product is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Kernel (2.6.12 → 5.10.270; 5.11.0 → 5.15.221; 5.16.0 → 6.1.188). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.
Security analyst
Signals on file: CVSS 9.8 (technical impact); EPSS 0.5% (30-day exploitation probability). It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, epss, osv. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.
Related intelligence
Exploitation evidence
Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV.
Safe detection guidance
Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Sep 11, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: stop processing a packet once its association is deleted sctp_endpoint_bh_rcv() looks the association up only when chunk->asoc is NULL, and caches the result in chunk->asoc and chunk->transport without taking a reference. A packet that matches no association is handed to the endpoint, so a peer can bundle COOKIE ECHO, SHUTDO
Oct 17, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Fix available
Kernel fixed in 5.10.270; Kernel fixed in 5.15.221; Kernel fixed in 6.1.188; Kernel fixed in 6.6.157
Oct 17, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Fix available
Kernel fixed in 5.10.270; 5.11.0
Oct 17, 2026 · OpenSSF OSV / OSV Scanner
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: stop processing a packet once its association is deleted sctp_endpoint_bh_rcv() looks the association up only when chunk->asoc is NULL, and caches the result in chunk->asoc and chunk->transport without taking a reference. A packet that matches no association is handed to the endpoint, so a peer can bundle COOKIE ECHO, SHUTDO
Affected versions
Enter an installed version to get a verified affected / not-affected result against the ranges below.
- Linux Kernel2.6.12 → 5.10.270; 5.11.0 → 5.15.221; 5.16.0 → 6.1.188
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-89479
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-89479
30-day exploitation probability 0.5%
first.org - OpenSSF OSV / OSV ScannerPackage advisoryCVE-2026-89479
sctp: stop processing a packet once its association is deleted
osv.dev
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.