tcp: ipv6: clamp default adverting MSS to avoid GSO_BY_FRAGS (0xFFFF)
When MTU is large, ip6_default_advmss() can return IPV6_MAXPLEN (65535).
This is interpreted by TCP as mss_clamp, allowing the MSS to reach 65535.
However, 0xFFFF is also used as a magic value GSO_BY_FRAGS in the kernel.
If a TCP packet with gso_size=0xFFFF is passed to skb_segment(), it will
be mistakenly treated as GSO_BY_FRAGS, leading to a NULL pointer
dereference because local TCP packets do not use frag_list.
Fix this by returning min(IPV6_MAXPLEN, GSO_BY_FRAGS - 1) (65534) from
ip6_default_advmss() when MTU is large.
Also update the stale comment in ip6_default_advmss() which suggested
that IPV6_MAXPLEN is returned to mean "any MSS".
Analysis
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Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
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| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
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No data available yet.
No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.
Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.
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Sat, 15 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-476 |
Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tcp: ipv6: clamp default adverting MSS to avoid GSO_BY_FRAGS (0xFFFF) When MTU is large, ip6_default_advmss() can return IPV6_MAXPLEN (65535). This is interpreted by TCP as mss_clamp, allowing the MSS to reach 65535. However, 0xFFFF is also used as a magic value GSO_BY_FRAGS in the kernel. If a TCP packet with gso_size=0xFFFF is passed to skb_segment(), it will be mistakenly treated as GSO_BY_FRAGS, leading to a NULL pointer dereference because local TCP packets do not use frag_list. Fix this by returning min(IPV6_MAXPLEN, GSO_BY_FRAGS - 1) (65534) from ip6_default_advmss() when MTU is large. Also update the stale comment in ip6_default_advmss() which suggested that IPV6_MAXPLEN is returned to mean "any MSS". | |
| Title | tcp: ipv6: clamp default adverting MSS to avoid GSO_BY_FRAGS (0xFFFF) | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-08-15T05:57:33.647Z
Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.938Z
Link: CVE-2026-72502
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-08-15T06:22:24.510
Modified: 2026-08-15T06:22:24.510
Link: CVE-2026-72502
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
Updated: 2026-08-15T17:15:03Z