CVE-2026-63887
Received Received - Intake

Heap Overflow in Linux Kernel SCSI Target iSCSI

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-63887, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-07-19

Last updated on: 2026-07-19

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: target: iscsi: Bound iscsi_encode_text_output() appends to rsp_buf iscsi_encode_text_output() concatenates "key=value\0" records into login->rsp_buf, an 8192-byte kzalloc(MAX_KEY_VALUE_PAIRS) buffer allocated in iscsit_alloc_login_setup_buffer(). The three sprintf() call sites in this function (lines 1398, 1411, 1424 in v7.1-rc2) never check the remaining buffer capacity: *length += sprintf(output_buf, "%s=%s", er->key, er->value); *length += 1; output_buf = textbuf + *length; The 8192-byte ceiling at iscsi_target_check_login_request() bounds the *input* Login PDU payload, but a single PDU can carry up to 2048 minimal four-byte "a=b\0" pairs, each unknown key expanding to a 16-byte "a=NotUnderstood\0" output record via iscsi_add_notunderstood_response(). 2048 * 16 = 32 KiB of output into an 8 KiB buffer, producing a ~24 KiB heap overrun in the kmalloc-8k slab. The fix introduces a static iscsi_encode_text_record() helper that uses snprintf() with a per-call bounds check against the remaining buffer, and threads a u32 textbuf_size parameter through iscsi_encode_text_output(). Both call sites in iscsi_target_handle_csg_zero() (PHASE_SECURITY) and iscsi_target_handle_csg_one() (PHASE_OPERATIONAL) pass MAX_KEY_VALUE_PAIRS. On overflow the encoder logs the condition, calls iscsi_release_extra_responses() to drop queued records, and returns -1; both caller sites now emit ISCSI_STATUS_CLS_INITIATOR_ERR / ISCSI_LOGIN_STATUS_INIT_ERR via iscsit_tx_login_rsp() before returning, so the initiator sees an explicit failed-login response rather than a silent connection drop. (Prior to this patch only the PHASE_OPERATIONAL caller did that; the PHASE_SECURITY caller is converted to the same shape.)

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Meta Information

Published
2026-07-19
Last Modified
2026-07-19
Generated
2026-07-20
AI Q&A
2026-07-19
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 2 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux_kernel linux_kernel 7.1-rc2
linux linux_kernel 7.1-rc2

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This is a heap buffer overflow in the Linux kernel's iSCSI target subsystem. The vulnerability occurs in the iscsi_encode_text_output() function, which appends key-value pairs to a fixed-size 8192-byte buffer without checking remaining capacity. Attackers can send specially crafted login requests with excessive key-value pairs, causing the buffer to overflow by up to 24 KiB.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves a heap overrun in the Linux kernel's iSCSI target subsystem. Detection requires checking if your system is running a vulnerable kernel version and monitoring for signs of exploitation such as crashes or unusual network traffic patterns. Examine kernel logs for heap corruption errors or iSCSI-related crashes. Use commands like 'dmesg | grep -i iscsi' or 'journalctl -k | grep -i iscsi' to check for errors.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or potentially execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable Linux kernels. Systems using iSCSI targets are particularly at risk. The attack requires network access to the iSCSI target service.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability could potentially impact compliance with GDPR and HIPAA by enabling heap overruns in the Linux kernel's iSCSI target subsystem. A successful exploit may lead to memory corruption, which could compromise data integrity or availability in systems handling sensitive information. However, the provided CVE details do not explicitly link this issue to specific compliance violations or regulatory impacts.

Mitigation Strategies

Immediately update your Linux kernel to the latest patched version that includes the fix for this vulnerability. If updating is not immediately possible, consider disabling the iSCSI target service if it is not required. Monitor vendor advisories for kernel updates and apply them as soon as they become available.

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