xfrm: fix ip_rt_bug race in icmp_route_lookup reverse path
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: fix ip_rt_bug race in icmp_route_lookup reverse path icmp_route_lookup() performs multiple route lookups to find a suitable route for sending ICMP error messages, with special handling for XFRM (IPsec) policies. The lookup sequence is: 1. First, lookup output route for ICMP reply (dst = original src) 2. Pass through xfrm_lookup() for policy check 3. If blocked (-EPERM) or dst is not local, enter "reverse path" 4. In reverse path, call xfrm_decode_session_reverse() to get fl4_dec which reverses the original packet's flow (saddr<->daddr swapped) 5. If fl4_dec.saddr is local (we are the original destination), use __ip_route_output_key() for output route lookup 6. If fl4_dec.saddr is NOT local (we are a forwarding node), use ip_route_input() to simulate the reverse packet's input path 7. Finally, pass rt2 through xfrm_lookup() with XFRM_LOOKUP_ICMP flag The bug occurs in step 6: ip_route_input() is called with fl4_dec.daddr (original packet's source) as destination. If this address becomes local between the initial check and ip_route_input() call (e.g., due to concurrent "ip addr add"), ip_route_input() returns a LOCAL route with dst.output set to ip_rt_bug. This route is then used for ICMP output, causing dst_output() to call ip_rt_bug(), triggering a WARN_ON: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: net/ipv4/route.c:1275 at ip_rt_bug+0x21/0x30, CPU#1 Call Trace: <TASK> ip_push_pending_frames+0x202/0x240 icmp_push_reply+0x30d/0x430 __icmp_send+0x1149/0x24f0 ip_options_compile+0xa2/0xd0 ip_rcv_finish_core+0x829/0x1950 ip_rcv+0x2d7/0x420 __netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x185/0x1f0 netif_receive_skb+0x90/0x450 tun_get_user+0x3413/0x3fb0 tun_chr_write_iter+0xe4/0x220 ... Fix this by checking rt2->rt_type after ip_route_input(). If it's RTN_LOCAL, the route cannot be used for output, so treat it as an error. The reproducer requires kernel modification to widen the race window, making it unsuitable as a selftest. It is available at: https://gist.github.com/mrpre/eae853b72ac6a750f5d45d64ddac1e81
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.25 and later | 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 2.6.25 and later Fixed in 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 2.6.25 to before 6.1.165; 6.2 to before 6.6.128; 6.7 to before 6.12.75; 6.13 to before 6.18.14; 6.19 to before 6.19.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 2.6.25 to before 6.1.165; 6.2 to before 6.6.128; 6.7 to before 6.12.75; 6.13 to before 6.18.14; 6.19 to before 6.19.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-45905
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qfvj-mcf4-fgpg
- 2026-11-06 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a95ec9144eeff1fc6fbcc21b677e322c6f1430b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2c1f59005da9dd4b07b26984fd719e36557dc57c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b04061f89ffc6168e7ec3c71d0086ec3c3797228
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1c9ef28f643cce34a6a6c36c8f4d6d60a60db7e1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/423ce12d10b426709489d6b84fdaa6d2f31c5652
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/81b84de32bb27ae1ae2eb9acf0420e9d0d14bf00
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Sources
- CVE-2026-45905 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-45905 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qfvj-mcf4-fgpg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-45905 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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