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CVE-2026-74611

CRITICAL 9.8

Published 2026-08-22 · Last modified 2026-08-25

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tls: rx: restore msg_iter before TLS 1.3 optimistic retry tls_decrypt_sg() advances msg->msg_iter when it maps user pages for the optimistic TLS 1.3 zero-copy path. If the decrypted record turns out not to be unpadded application data, tls_decrypt_sw() retries into a kernel skb, but leaves the iterator advanced. The subsequent copy from the skb then writes decrypted bytes again at a later point in the caller iovecs while recvmsg() reports only the post-retry length. A TLS peer can trigger this after the receiver enables TLS_RX_EXPECT_NO_PAD. Revert the iterator by the number of bytes consumed by the optimistic mapping before retrying without zero-copy. Add a selftest which sends a TLS 1.3 control record with TLS_RX_EXPECT_NO_PAD enabled and verifies that recvmsg() does not overwrite later iovecs beyond the returned length.

ELEVATED IMPACT

Severe if exploited (CVSS 9.8), but no known exploitation and low modeled probability. Patch on a normal cadence.

Exploitation likelihood

0.4%chance of exploitation in 30 days · 37th percentile

○ In CISA KEV ○ Public exploit / PoC

Impact if exploited

9.8CVSS 3.1 · CRITICAL

  • ConfidentialityHigh
  • IntegrityHigh
  • AvailabilityHigh

What an attacker needs

  • ✓Access: Reachable over the network — no local access needed
  • ✓Privileges: No account or privileges required
  • ✓User interaction: No user interaction needed
  • ✓Complexity: No special conditions — reliably repeatable

✓ lowers the bar for an attacker · ⚠ raises it

Proof of concept & exploit code

Test against your own equipment

curl -s https://vulnpedia.com/cve/CVE-2026-74611/poc.jsonMachine-readable PoC index for this CVE (for automation).

Listed for defensive triage, patch verification, and authorized testing on systems you own. Machine-readable: /cve/CVE-2026-74611/poc.json

Affected

Vendors Linux

Products Linux

Weakness (CWE)

Not classified.

CVSS vector

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

All CVSS metrics

  • CRITICAL 9.8 v3.1 · CNA Primary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • CRITICAL 9.8 v3.1 · NVD Secondary
    CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

References

Technical & other

Sources: NVD · CVE.org · EPSS