af_unix: Fix UAF read of tail->len in unix_stream_data_wait()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 11 fixed, 3 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Fix UAF read of tail->len in unix_stream_data_wait() unix_stream_data_wait() does skb_peek_tail(&sk->sk_receive_queue) without holding any lock that prevents SKBs on that queue from being dequeued and freed. This has been the case since commit 79f632c71bea ("unix/stream: fix peeking with an offset larger than data in queue"). The first consequence of this is that the pointer comparison `tail != last` can be false even if `last` semantically refers to an already-freed SKB while `tail` is a new SKB allocated at the same address; which can cause unix_stream_data_wait() to wrongly keep blocking after new data has arrived, but only in a weird scenario where a peeking recv() and a normal recv() on the same socket are racing, which is probably not a real problem. But since commit 2b514574f7e8 ("net: af_unix: implement splice for stream af_unix sockets"), `tail` is actually dereferenced, which can cause UAF in the following race scenario (where test_setup() runs single-threaded, and afterwards, test_thread1() and test_thread2() run concurrently in two threads: ``` static int socks[2]; void test_setup(void) { socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0, socks); send(socks[1], "A", 1, 0); int peekoff = 1; setsockopt(socks[0], SOL_SOCKET, SO_PEEK_OFF, &peekoff, sizeof(peekoff)); } void test_thread1(void) { char dummy; recv(socks[0], &dummy, 1, MSG_PEEK); } void test_thread2(void) { char dummy; recv(socks[0], &dummy, 1, 0); shutdown(socks[1], SHUT_WR); } ``` when racing like this: ``` thread1 thread2 unix_stream_read_generic mutex_lock(&u->iolock) skb_peek(&sk->sk_receive_queue) skb_peek_next(skb, &sk->sk_receive_queue) mutex_unlock(&u->iolock) unix_stream_read_generic unix_state_lock(sk) skb_peek(&sk->sk_receive_queue) unix_state_unlock(sk) unix_stream_data_wait unix_state_lock(sk) tail = skb_peek_tail(&sk->sk_receive_queue) spin_lock(&sk->sk_receive_queue.lock) __skb_unlink(skb, &sk->sk_receive_queue) spin_unlock(&sk->sk_receive_queue.lock) consume_skb(skb) [frees the SKB] `tail != last`: false `tail`: true `tail->len != last_len` ***UAF*** ``` Fix the UAF by removing the read of tail->len; checking tail->len would only make sense if SKBs in the receive queue of a UNIX socket could grow, which can no longer happen. Kuniyuki explained: > When commit 869e7c62486e ("net: af_unix: implement stream sendpage > support") added sendpage() support, data could be appended to the last > skb in the receiver's queue. > > That's why we needed to check if the length of the last skb was changed > while waiting for new data in unix_stream_data_wait(). > > However, commit a0dbf5f818f9 ("af_unix: Support MSG_SPLICE_PAGES") and > commit 57d44a354a43 ("unix: Convert unix_stream_sendpage() to use > MSG_SPLICE_PAGES") refactored sendmsg(), and now data is always added > to a new skb. That means this fix is not suitable for kernels before 6.5.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
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 | 4.2 and later | 6.6.143, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.2 and later Fixed in 6.6.143, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 4.2 to before 6.6.143; 6.7 to before 6.12.92; 6.13 to before 6.18.34; 6.19 to before 7.0.11 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 4.2 to before 6.6.143; 6.7 to before 6.12.92; 6.13 to before 6.18.34; 6.19 to before 7.0.11 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.143, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1
Red Hat 3 advisories
- RHSA-2026:93436 Released 2026-11-02 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) bpftool-4.18.0-553.181.1.el8_10, kernel-4.18.0-553.181.1.el8_10, kernel-abi-stablelists-4.18.0-553.181.1.el8_10 +19
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.0-553.181.1.el8_10
- RHSA-2026:93437 Released 2026-11-02 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel-rt security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10 +9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) kernel-rt-4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10, kernel-rt-core-4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10, kernel-rt-debug-4.18.0-553.181.1.rt7.522.el8_10 +7
- RHSA-2026:91565 Released 2026-10-28 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- 10Base-SMTV kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.69.1.el10_2 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| 10Base-SMTV | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93436 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93436 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux RT (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93437 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:91565 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-64109
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mh36-g5h5-fxqc
- 2026-10-13 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-27 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 Fix available: RHSA-2026:91565 · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: 10Base-SMTV, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) +4 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-02 Fix available: RHSA-2026:93436 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-02 Fix available: RHSA-2026:93437 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-02 Fix available: Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux CRB (v. 8), Red Hat Enterprise Linux NFV (v. 8) +1 · Red Hat
References
Patch 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26342087fac93b3932e6af61dc91ec029cb8a623
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/38bccb927d83d7d52e5b20015a172a0b6101d11e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/acdff9907478e82208475b1151700d0b71dcdc63
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5f162f95a95834f06a8ec6140889272ad12e842f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/be309f8eae8b474a4a617eaae01324da996fc719
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-64109 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-64109 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mh36-g5h5-fxqc · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-64109 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences