CVE-2026-72404 (GCVE-0-2026-72404)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-15 05:56 – Updated: 2026-08-17 05:43
VLAI
Title
tipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy()
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy() TIPC UDP media bearer teardown calls dst_cache_destroy() on its replicast caches before calling synchronize_net() to wait for concurrent RCU readers (transmitters) to finish: static void cleanup_bearer(struct work_struct *work) { ... list_for_each_entry_safe(rcast, tmp, &ub->rcast.list, list) { dst_cache_destroy(&rcast->dst_cache); list_del_rcu(&rcast->list); kfree_rcu(rcast, rcu); } ... dst_cache_destroy(&ub->rcast.dst_cache); udp_tunnel_sock_release(ub->sk); synchronize_net(); ... } This is highly buggy because dst_cache_destroy() immediately frees the per-CPU cache memory (free_percpu()) and releases the cached dst entries without any synchronization. If a concurrent transmitter (e.g., tipc_udp_xmit()) is running on another CPU under RCU protection, it can call dst_cache_get() concurrently, leading to: 1. Use-After-Free on the per-CPU cache pointer itself (crash). 2. "rcuref - imbalanced put()" warning if it attempts to release a dst that was concurrently released by dst_cache_destroy(). Furthermore, calling kfree(ub) immediately after synchronize_net() without closing the socket first (or waiting after closing it) leaves a window where a concurrent receiver (tipc_udp_recv()) could start after synchronize_net(), access ub, and suffer a UAF when kfree(ub) runs. To fix this, we must defer dst_cache_destroy() and kfree(ub) until after we have ensured that no more readers can see the bearer/socket and all existing readers have finished: 1. Defer rcast entry destruction (both dst_cache_destroy() and kfree()) to an RCU callback using call_rcu_hurry(). Using call_rcu_hurry() ensures the dst entries are released quickly. 2. Release the bearer socket using udp_tunnel_sock_release() (stops new receive readers). 3. Call synchronize_net() to wait for all outstanding RCU readers (both transmit and receive) to finish. 4. Now that it is safe, call dst_cache_destroy() on the main bearer cache, and free ub. Note: 3) and 4) can be changed later in net-next to also use call_rcu_hurry() and get rid of the synchronize_net() latency.
Severity
7.8 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
Linux Linux Affected: e9c1a793210f29f32ee4cf048e04d7d9bb3221cc , < 1c8393eefa3cadf4ca0b61119ad1321aa32d3c8c (git)
Affected: e9c1a793210f29f32ee4cf048e04d7d9bb3221cc , < 7116764ca53ff529335d7ab7c364a69f094b23a5 (git)
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Linux Linux Affected: 5.3
Unaffected: 0 , < 5.3 (semver)
Unaffected: 7.1.5 , ≤ 7.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 7.2 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
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{
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    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
          "product": "Linux",
          "programFiles": [
            "net/tipc/udp_media.c"
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          "vendor": "Linux",
          "versions": [
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      "cpeApplicability": [
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              "cpeMatch": [
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                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "7.1.5",
                  "versionStartIncluding": "5.3",
                  "vulnerable": true
                },
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "7.2",
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      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\ntipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy()\n\nTIPC UDP media bearer teardown calls dst_cache_destroy() on its\nreplicast caches before calling synchronize_net() to wait for\nconcurrent RCU readers (transmitters) to finish:\n\nstatic void cleanup_bearer(struct work_struct *work)\n{\n...\n\tlist_for_each_entry_safe(rcast, tmp, \u0026ub-\u003ercast.list, list) {\n\t\tdst_cache_destroy(\u0026rcast-\u003edst_cache);\n\t\tlist_del_rcu(\u0026rcast-\u003elist);\n\t\tkfree_rcu(rcast, rcu);\n\t}\n...\n\tdst_cache_destroy(\u0026ub-\u003ercast.dst_cache);\n\tudp_tunnel_sock_release(ub-\u003esk);\n\tsynchronize_net();\n...\n}\n\nThis is highly buggy because dst_cache_destroy() immediately frees the\nper-CPU cache memory (free_percpu()) and releases the cached dst\nentries without any synchronization.\n\nIf a concurrent transmitter (e.g., tipc_udp_xmit()) is running on another\nCPU under RCU protection, it can call dst_cache_get() concurrently,\nleading to:\n1. Use-After-Free on the per-CPU cache pointer itself (crash).\n2. \"rcuref - imbalanced put()\" warning if it attempts to release a\n   dst that was concurrently released by dst_cache_destroy().\n\nFurthermore, calling kfree(ub) immediately after synchronize_net() without\nclosing the socket first (or waiting after closing it) leaves a window\nwhere a concurrent receiver (tipc_udp_recv()) could start after\nsynchronize_net(), access ub, and suffer a UAF when kfree(ub) runs.\n\nTo fix this, we must defer dst_cache_destroy() and kfree(ub) until after\nwe have ensured that no more readers can see the bearer/socket and all\nexisting readers have finished:\n\n1. Defer rcast entry destruction (both dst_cache_destroy() and kfree())\n   to an RCU callback using call_rcu_hurry().\n   Using call_rcu_hurry() ensures the dst entries are released quickly.\n\n2. Release the bearer socket using udp_tunnel_sock_release() (stops\n   new receive readers).\n\n3. Call synchronize_net() to wait for all outstanding RCU readers\n   (both transmit and receive) to finish.\n\n4. Now that it is safe, call dst_cache_destroy() on the main bearer\n   cache, and free ub.\n\nNote: 3) and 4) can be changed later in net-next to also use\ncall_rcu_hurry() and get rid of the synchronize_net() latency."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
          "cvssV3_1": {
            "baseScore": 7.8,
            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:L - The UAF is in cleanup_bearer() during UDP bearer teardown, reached only via TIPC genetlink bearer disable (TIPC_NL_BEARER_DISABLE) or network-namespace exit; remote UDP/TIPC peers cannot initiate teardown, so exploitation requires local netlink/netns access even though concurrent xmit/recv may involve network I/O.\nAC:L - An attacker with namespace CAP_NET_ADMIN can script both teardown and concurrent traffic (enable/disable bearer or destroy netns while sending/receiving TIPC UDP on port 6118), controlling both sides of the RCU race; dst_cache_destroy()\u0027s free_percpu() widens the window and syzbot triggered it reliably.\nPR:L - Bearer disable/enable and netns teardown require CAP_NET_ADMIN; TIPC genetlink ops use GENL_UNS_ADMIN_PERM and tipc_genl_family.netnsok=true, so unprivileged users obtain effective net-admin capability via user/network namespaces (unshare -Urn).\nUI:N - Exploitation needs no victim interaction beyond the attacker\u0027s own namespace/netlink operations and packet generation; no mount, file open, or other user-directed action is required.\nS:U - The use-after-free corrupts kernel heap memory within the same kernel security domain; impacts are kernel crash or local privilege escalation, not VM escape or cross-security-authority boundary crossing.\nC:H - Premature dst_cache_destroy() frees per-CPU cache memory while concurrent tipc_udp_xmit() may call dst_cache_get() on the freed object, and the post-synchronize_net() recv path dereferences freed udp_bearer, enabling kernel memory disclosure.\nI:H - UAF on dst_cache structures and udp_bearer allows heap shaping and control of freed-object contents, providing primitives for arbitrary kernel writes and potential control-flow hijacking/local privilege escalation.\nA:H - Concurrent use-after-free reliably causes kernel oops/panic (per commit: UAF on per-CPU cache pointer crashes) and can be triggered repeatedly during scripted bearer teardown loops."
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T05:43:44.084Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
      },
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        },
        {
          "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7116764ca53ff529335d7ab7c364a69f094b23a5"
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      ],
      "title": "tipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy()",
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    "assignerShortName": "Linux",
    "cveId": "CVE-2026-72404",
    "datePublished": "2026-08-15T05:56:28.124Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-08-09T03:40:39.925Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T05:43:44.084Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
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  "dataVersion": "5.2",
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      "date": "2026-09-21",
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      "percentile": "0.04917"
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      "initial_release_date": "2026-08-23T14:57:40.000Z",
      "product_status:known_affected": "1",
      "source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "tipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy()",
      "url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-72404.json",
      "version": "1"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
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                "defaultStatus": "unaffected",
                "product": "Linux",
                "programFiles": [
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            ],
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        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\ntipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy()\n\nTIPC UDP media bearer teardown calls dst_cache_destroy() on its\nreplicast caches before calling synchronize_net() to wait for\nconcurrent RCU readers (transmitters) to finish:\n\nstatic void cleanup_bearer(struct work_struct *work)\n{\n...\n\tlist_for_each_entry_safe(rcast, tmp, \u0026ub-\u003ercast.list, list) {\n\t\tdst_cache_destroy(\u0026rcast-\u003edst_cache);\n\t\tlist_del_rcu(\u0026rcast-\u003elist);\n\t\tkfree_rcu(rcast, rcu);\n\t}\n...\n\tdst_cache_destroy(\u0026ub-\u003ercast.dst_cache);\n\tudp_tunnel_sock_release(ub-\u003esk);\n\tsynchronize_net();\n...\n}\n\nThis is highly buggy because dst_cache_destroy() immediately frees the\nper-CPU cache memory (free_percpu()) and releases the cached dst\nentries without any synchronization.\n\nIf a concurrent transmitter (e.g., tipc_udp_xmit()) is running on another\nCPU under RCU protection, it can call dst_cache_get() concurrently,\nleading to:\n1. Use-After-Free on the per-CPU cache pointer itself (crash).\n2. \"rcuref - imbalanced put()\" warning if it attempts to release a\n   dst that was concurrently released by dst_cache_destroy().\n\nFurthermore, calling kfree(ub) immediately after synchronize_net() without\nclosing the socket first (or waiting after closing it) leaves a window\nwhere a concurrent receiver (tipc_udp_recv()) could start after\nsynchronize_net(), access ub, and suffer a UAF when kfree(ub) runs.\n\nTo fix this, we must defer dst_cache_destroy() and kfree(ub) until after\nwe have ensured that no more readers can see the bearer/socket and all\nexisting readers have finished:\n\n1. Defer rcast entry destruction (both dst_cache_destroy() and kfree())\n   to an RCU callback using call_rcu_hurry().\n   Using call_rcu_hurry() ensures the dst entries are released quickly.\n\n2. Release the bearer socket using udp_tunnel_sock_release() (stops\n   new receive readers).\n\n3. Call synchronize_net() to wait for all outstanding RCU readers\n   (both transmit and receive) to finish.\n\n4. Now that it is safe, call dst_cache_destroy() on the main bearer\n   cache, and free ub.\n\nNote: 3) and 4) can be changed later in net-next to also use\ncall_rcu_hurry() and get rid of the synchronize_net() latency."
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2026-72404",
        "lastModified": "2026-08-17T06:19:07.027",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "LOCAL",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 7.8,
                "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "LOW",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
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              "impactScore": 5.9,
              "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
              "type": "Secondary"
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        "published": "2026-08-15T06:22:13.970",
        "references": [
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            "source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
            "url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1c8393eefa3cadf4ca0b61119ad1321aa32d3c8c"
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        "sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "vulnStatus": "Received"
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      "current_release_date": "2026-08-19T17:41:43+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-72404",
      "id": "CVE-2026-72404",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-08-15T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "232",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "42",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: tipc: fix UAF in cleanup_bearer() due to premature dst_cache_destroy()",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72404.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "suse_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-09-15T01:26:08Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-72404",
      "id": "CVE-2026-72404",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-09-02T11:46:23Z",
      "product_status:known_affected": "269",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "93",
      "source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
      "status": "interim",
      "title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2026-72404",
      "url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2026-72404.json",
      "version": "5"
    }
  }
}



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