---
id: "CVE-2026-98602"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-98602"]
title: "Linux kernel: Bluetooth BNEP reads past short frames, leaking memory"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "runtime"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["bluetooth", "linux-kernel", "runtime", "self-hosted"]
not_affected_if: ["bnep-module-not-loaded", "no-bluetooth-hardware"]
published_at: "2026-10-18T16:17:12+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T05:21:32+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98602", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel: Bluetooth BNEP reads past short frames, leaking memory

The Linux kernel's Bluetooth BNEP driver reads packet headers and Ethernet headers without checking the frame is long enough, causing out-of-bounds heap reads. The sources do not say whether an attacker can reliably use this beyond reading kernel memory.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Run `uname -r` and compare against the fixed kernel builds in the upstream kernel commit.
- Check whether the Bluetooth BNEP module is loaded with `lsmod | grep bnep`.
- unknown

## Fix

- Update the Linux kernel to a release that includes the upstream BNEP fix from CVE-2026-98602.
- unknown

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:16+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98602

## From the sources

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

Bluetooth: bnep: fix out-of-bounds reads on short RX/TX frames and control fallthrough

Fix multiple out-of-bounds reads in Bluetooth BNEP frame processing:

1. In bnep_rx_frame() and bnep_ctrl_frame() (net/bluetooth/bnep/core.c),
   use pskb_may_pull() to verify the BNEP header, control type byte,
   filter count, and extension headers exist before reading them, and
   return 0 after handling BNEP_CONTROL instead of falling through to
   Ethernet frame submission when no extension headers follow.
2. In bnep_net_xmit() (net/bluetooth/bnep/netdev.c), verify skb->len >=
   ETH_HLEN with pskb_may_pull() before reading the 14-byte Ethernet
   header to prevent an out-of-bounds heap read and infoleak on short
   AF_PACKET TX frames.

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_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_