xfrm: fix sk_dst_cache double-free in xfrm_user_policy()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: fix sk_dst_cache double-free in xfrm_user_policy() xfrm_user_policy() clears the socket dst cache with __sk_dst_reset(), i.e. the non-atomic __sk_dst_set(sk, NULL): it reads sk_dst_cache with rcu_dereference_protected(), stores NULL and dst_release()s the old dst. That is only safe if no other thread modifies sk_dst_cache concurrently. For a connected UDP socket that does not hold: the transmit fast path (udp_sendmsg -> sk_dst_check -> sk_dst_reset) resets the cache locklessly with an atomic xchg(). A per-socket policy change racing a send can make both sides observe the same old dst and each dst_release() it, dropping the socket's single reference twice and freeing the xfrm_dst bundle while it is still referenced: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in dst_release Write of size 4 at addr ffff88801897b6c0 by task exploit/155 Call Trace: ... dst_release (... ./include/linux/rcuref.h:109) xfrm_user_policy (./include/net/sock.h:2239 ./include/net/sock.h:2256 net/xfrm/xfrm_state.c:3053) do_ip_setsockopt (net/ipv4/ip_sockglue.c:1347) ip_setsockopt (net/ipv4/ip_sockglue.c:1417) do_sock_setsockopt (net/socket.c:2368) __sys_setsockopt (net/socket.c:2393) __x64_sys_setsockopt (net/socket.c:2396) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94) entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:121) Reachable by an unprivileged user via a user+network namespace. Use the atomic sk_dst_reset() so the cache is cleared and released with a single xchg(): whichever side wins releases the dst once, the other sees NULL and does nothing. Behaviour is otherwise unchanged.
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 | 3.16.52 to before 3.17; 4.4.163 to before 4.5; 3.18.101 to before 3.19; 4.1.52 to before 4.2; 4.4.123 to before 4.5; 4.9.89 to before 4.10 | 3.17, 4.5, 3.19, 4.2, 4.10 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 4.14 and later | 5.10.267, 5.15.218, 6.1.185, 6.6.154, 6.12.106, 6.18.47, 7.1.6, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.16.52 to before 3.17; 4.4.163 to before 4.5; 3.18.101 to before 3.19; 4.1.52 to before 4.2; 4.4.123 to before 4.5; 4.9.89 to before 4.10 Fixed in 3.17, 4.5, 3.19, 4.2, 4.10 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.14 and later Fixed in 5.10.267, 5.15.218, 6.1.185, 6.6.154, 6.12.106, 6.18.47, 7.1.6, 7.2 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.17, 4.5, 3.19, 4.2, 4.10
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.267, 5.15.218, 6.1.185, 6.6.154, 6.12.106, 6.18.47, 7.1.6, 7.2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet |
| 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 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-64581
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7q3m-x568-mpcp
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-20 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-27 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-27 CVSS score added · Red Hat
References
Other 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e8686fd8d18b99f3a9038683045b2f2338a7706d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9340ebdc13f8bb5063c0bc0b037ee7e640d4ae9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f833821e4b52ab6335d443ede5fb79c38e61d19a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0ab9a71167bae308e05ab13b65e2007504a603f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8dd8929b71c4f06c614f8f54c2cc070453faae16
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ea8f06454012d9e7f9c6e6253df710949bf6294
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/96b678d08268b5f5c6fc99d4289d9b7e334fc683
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c283e9ada7fcb7dd4b10592623086b2e6d2f9925
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Sources
- CVE-2026-64581 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-64581 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7q3m-x568-mpcp · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-64581 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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