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

macsec: don't read an unset MAC header in macsec_encrypt()

macsec_encrypt() reads the Ethernet header via eth_hdr(skb)
(skb->head + skb->mac_header) to memmove() the 12 source/destination MAC
bytes forward and make room for the SecTAG.

On the AF_PACKET SOCK_RAW + PACKET_QDISC_BYPASS transmit path the skb
reaches the macsec ndo_start_xmit() with the MAC header unset, so
eth_hdr(skb) resolves to skb->head + (u16)~0 and the read is out of
bounds: a 12-byte heap over-read that is also emitted on the wire as the
frame's outer source/destination MAC. KASAN reports a slab-out-of-bounds
read in macsec_start_xmit() on 6.0; on current mainline a CONFIG_DEBUG_NET
build flags it as an unset mac header in skb_mac_header().

On the TX path the L2 header is at skb->data, so use skb_eth_hdr(), added
by commit 96cc4b69581d ("macvlan: do not assume mac_header is set in
macvlan_broadcast()") for exactly this purpose.

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History

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 08:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-126

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: macsec: don't read an unset MAC header in macsec_encrypt() macsec_encrypt() reads the Ethernet header via eth_hdr(skb) (skb->head + skb->mac_header) to memmove() the 12 source/destination MAC bytes forward and make room for the SecTAG. On the AF_PACKET SOCK_RAW + PACKET_QDISC_BYPASS transmit path the skb reaches the macsec ndo_start_xmit() with the MAC header unset, so eth_hdr(skb) resolves to skb->head + (u16)~0 and the read is out of bounds: a 12-byte heap over-read that is also emitted on the wire as the frame's outer source/destination MAC. KASAN reports a slab-out-of-bounds read in macsec_start_xmit() on 6.0; on current mainline a CONFIG_DEBUG_NET build flags it as an unset mac header in skb_mac_header(). On the TX path the L2 header is at skb->data, so use skb_eth_hdr(), added by commit 96cc4b69581d ("macvlan: do not assume mac_header is set in macvlan_broadcast()") for exactly this purpose.
Title macsec: don't read an unset MAC header in macsec_encrypt()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-15T05:51:46.014Z

Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.900Z

Link: CVE-2026-72019

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T06:21:00.790

Modified: 2026-08-15T06:21:00.790

Link: CVE-2026-72019

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-15T09:00:06Z

Weaknesses