diff --git a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
index ead02c9e0848..c40c9e02391b 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/distributed-arp-table.c
@@ -1066,6 +1066,9 @@ static u16 batadv_arp_get_type(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
  * @skb: the buffer containing the packet to extract the VID from
  * @hdr_size: the size of the batman-adv header encapsulating the packet
  *
+ * The caller must ensure that at least @hdr_size + ETH_HLEN bytes are
+ * accessible after skb->data.
+ *
  * Return: If the packet embedded in the skb is vlan tagged this function
  * returns the VID with the BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG flag. Otherwise BATADV_NO_FLAGS
  * is returned.
@@ -1148,6 +1151,10 @@ bool batadv_dat_snoop_outgoing_arp_request(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (!READ_ONCE(bat_priv->distributed_arp_table))
 		goto out;
 
+	/* first, find out the vid. */
+	if (!pskb_may_pull(skb, hdr_size + ETH_HLEN))
+		goto out;
+
 	vid = batadv_dat_get_vid(skb, &hdr_size);
 
 	type = batadv_arp_get_type(bat_priv, skb, hdr_size);
@@ -1243,6 +1250,10 @@ bool batadv_dat_snoop_incoming_arp_request(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (!READ_ONCE(bat_priv->distributed_arp_table))
 		goto out;
 
+	/* first, find out the vid. */
+	if (!pskb_may_pull(skb, hdr_size + ETH_HLEN))
+		goto out;
+
 	vid = batadv_dat_get_vid(skb, &hdr_size);
 
 	type = batadv_arp_get_type(bat_priv, skb, hdr_size);
@@ -1305,6 +1316,10 @@ void batadv_dat_snoop_outgoing_arp_reply(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (!READ_ONCE(bat_priv->distributed_arp_table))
 		return;
 
+	/* first, find out the vid. */
+	if (!pskb_may_pull(skb, hdr_size + ETH_HLEN))
+		return;
+
 	vid = batadv_dat_get_vid(skb, &hdr_size);
 
 	type = batadv_arp_get_type(bat_priv, skb, hdr_size);
@@ -1353,6 +1368,10 @@ bool batadv_dat_snoop_incoming_arp_reply(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (!READ_ONCE(bat_priv->distributed_arp_table))
 		goto out;
 
+	/* first, find out the vid. */
+	if (!pskb_may_pull(skb, hdr_size + ETH_HLEN))
+		goto out;
+
 	vid = batadv_dat_get_vid(skb, &hdr_size);
 
 	type = batadv_arp_get_type(bat_priv, skb, hdr_size);
@@ -1807,6 +1826,10 @@ bool batadv_dat_drop_broadcast_packet(struct batadv_priv *bat_priv,
 	if (batadv_forw_packet_is_rebroadcast(forw_packet))
 		goto out;
 
+	/* first, find out the vid. */
+	if (!pskb_may_pull(forw_packet->skb, hdr_size + ETH_HLEN))
+		goto out;
+
 	vid = batadv_dat_get_vid(forw_packet->skb, &hdr_size);
 
 	type = batadv_arp_get_type(bat_priv, forw_packet->skb, hdr_size);
diff --git a/net/batman-adv/main.c b/net/batman-adv/main.c
index 3c4572284b53..4d3807a645b7 100644
--- a/net/batman-adv/main.c
+++ b/net/batman-adv/main.c
@@ -580,6 +580,9 @@ void batadv_recv_handler_unregister(u8 packet_type)
  * @skb: the buffer containing the packet
  * @header_len: length of the batman header preceding the ethernet header
  *
+ * The caller must ensure that at least @header_len + ETH_HLEN bytes are
+ * accessible after skb->data.
+ *
  * Return: VID with the BATADV_VLAN_HAS_TAG flag when the packet embedded in the
  * skb is vlan tagged. Otherwise BATADV_NO_FLAGS.
  */