ppp: defer channel free to an RCU grace period to fix pppol2tp RX UAF
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: 7 fixed, 2 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: ppp: defer channel free to an RCU grace period to fix pppol2tp RX UAF pppol2tp_recv() runs in the L2TP UDP-encap softirq RX path: l2tp_udp_encap_recv() -> l2tp_recv_common() -> pppol2tp_recv() -> ppp_input(&po->chan) It runs under rcu_read_lock() holding only an l2tp_session reference and takes NO reference on the internal PPP channel (struct channel, chan->ppp) that ppp_input() dereferences. The pppox socket is SOCK_RCU_FREE, so 'po' and the embedded ppp_channel are RCU-safe. But the internal struct channel is a separate allocation that ppp_release_channel() frees with a plain kfree(): close(data socket) -> pppol2tp_release() -> pppox_unbind_sock() -> ppp_unregister_channel() -> ppp_release_channel() -> kfree(pch) For a channel that is bound (PPPIOCGCHAN) but not attached to a ppp unit (no PPPIOCCONNECT, pch->ppp == NULL) and not bridged, teardown skips both ppp_disconnect_channel()'s synchronize_net() and ppp_unbridge_channels()'s synchronize_rcu(), so the kfree() has no grace period. rcu_read_lock() in pppol2tp_recv() does not protect against a plain kfree(), so an in-flight ppp_input() on one CPU can dereference the channel just freed by close() on another CPU. The bug is reachable by an unprivileged user. Defer the channel free to an RCU callback via call_rcu() so the grace period fences any in-flight ppp_input(). The disconnect and unbridge teardown paths already fence with synchronize_net()/synchronize_rcu(); call_rcu() does the same here without stalling the close() path.
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 | 3.2.99 to before 3.3; 3.16.54 to before 3.17; 4.4.225 to before 4.5; 4.9.225 to before 4.10; 4.14.182 to before 4.15 | 3.3, 3.17, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 4.15 and later | 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42, 7.1.6, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.2.99 to before 3.3; 3.16.54 to before 3.17; 4.4.225 to before 4.5; 4.9.225 to before 4.10; 4.14.182 to before 4.15 Fixed in 3.3, 3.17, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 4.15 and later Fixed in 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42, 7.1.6, 7.2 Patch available CNA
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 3.3, 3.17, 4.5, 4.10, 4.15
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.148, 6.12.101, 6.18.42, 7.1.6, 7.2
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2026:93413 Released 2026-11-01 · Red Hat rating Importantkernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- 10Base-SMTV kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2 +12
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2 +29
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) kernel-modules-internal-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2 +21
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.72.1.el10_2 +9
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
| 10Base-SMTV | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Hidden (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) | Fixed | RHSA-2026:93413 |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-68398
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-p572-44qq-qhm9
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-20 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-11-02 Fix available: RHSA-2026:93413 · Red Hat
- 2026-11-02 Fix available: 10Base-SMTV, Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10), Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) +4 · Red Hat
References
Other 7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4e47f1ac188ece11d6fdabe44166a2776cc5bd4e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/110b765744b147c63882f5e9cb12931c5dc8d85f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bb84e964ff0fe0a171c965362de72f9820dbce9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3ab32218d7182705dae5c86f13925f458072da2c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/c9574b8a8edeb4edd3ac6472c27ef7184bdb2baa
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/06213c85d8c0994f786c093b8b2a517987943ca6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec4215683e47424c9c4762fd3c60f552a3119142
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Sources
- CVE-2026-68398 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-68398 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-p572-44qq-qhm9 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-68398 · 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