CVE-2026-98461
Received Received - Intake

Bluetooth Socket Event Length Validation Flaw in Linux Kernel

Publication date: 2026-10-18

Last updated on: 2026-10-18

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_sock: validate event length before filtering is_filtered_packet() reads the event code from skb->data[0] without first checking that the skb is nonempty. When an opcode filter is configured, it also reads the command opcode at offsets 3 or 4 without checking that a Command Complete or Command Status event is long enough. hci_send_to_sock() invokes the filter before hci_event_packet() validates the event header. A malformed event supplied by a controller or a vhci device can therefore cause an out-of-bounds read. Keep the unmasked event code for the opcode checks. The masked value is needed for the 64-bit event bitmap, but using it to identify command events aliases event codes above 0x3f. In particular, Synchronous Train Complete (0x4f) was treated as Command Status (0x0f) even though its payload has no opcode. Reject actual command events that are too short for the field being inspected. A truncated command event cannot match a configured opcode.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-10-18
Last Modified
2026-10-18
Generated
2026-10-18
AI Q&A
2026-10-18
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-98461
EUVD
EUVD-2026-103701

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 9 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2
Linux Linux 2.6.12

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Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability in the Linux kernel involves a Bluetooth component where event packets are not properly validated before processing. The function is_filtered_packet() reads event codes and opcodes from packet data without checking if the packet is large enough, leading to potential out-of-bounds memory reads. Malformed packets from a controller or virtual device could exploit this flaw.

Impact Analysis

An attacker with access to a vulnerable system could send specially crafted Bluetooth packets to trigger memory corruption. This may cause system crashes, privilege escalation, or unauthorized code execution. Systems using Bluetooth devices or virtual Bluetooth interfaces are at risk.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Linux kernel to a patched version that resolves the Bluetooth event validation issue. Monitor vendor advisories for kernel updates addressing CVE-2026-98461.

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