IDR handle aliasing in Linux kernel cls_u32 hash table handling
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel net/sched cls_u32 classifier is affected from 6.1.119 before 6.1.189, from 6.6.63 before 6.6.158, from 6.11.10 before 6.12, and from 6.12. Manually created u32 hash tables store their IDR entry under a raw handle key that does not match the key used on removal, so entries leak and can alias live tables. The source describes a permanent leak and lookups routed to the wrong table when handles collide.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: cls_u32: fix manual hash table handle IDR aliasing A u32 hash table created with an explicit handle ('tc filter add ... handle 801: u32 divisor N') keys its IDR entry on the raw handle, while the destroy paths free it under handle2id(handle). The two key domains disagree for handles in the 0x800..0xFFF htid range: handle2id() folds them back into the auto-allocated id space (1..0x7FF). A manual table therefore leaves its raw-keyed IDR entry unreachable on delete (a permanent leak), and its delete can drop the idr entry of an unrelated live auto table. A later auto allocation can then hand out a handle that aliases the live manual table; u32_lookup_ht() first-match routes lookups and TCA_U32_LINK for that htid to the wrong table. Key the divisor-path alloc on handle2id(handle) so allocation and removal share one key domain. A manual handle that maps onto an id already in use is rejected with -ENOSPC, and auto allocation skips ids held by live manual tables. Conditions to recreate: ip link add test0 type dummy tc qdisc add dev test0 clsact tc filter add dev test0 ingress protocol ip pref 1 \ handle 801: u32 divisor 16 tc filter add dev test0 ingress protocol ip pref 2 u32 divisor 16 tc -d filter show dev test0 ingress | grep 'fh 801:' # unpatched: two live tables with handle 0x80100000 (the pref 2 root # hnode is auto-allocated id 1); patched: the auto hnode takes id 2. Also tested with a poc with a live u32 table on the block, add/delete a manual table 'handle 901: u32 divisor 1' twice; unpatched, the re-add fails with -ENOSPC because the raw key leaked on the first delete.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade the Linux kernel to 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3, depending on the branch in use. Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 has no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 have no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9, 7.3
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 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98629
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-3xrv-9p49-wqm3
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-21 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-21 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/21fc07924e996e1e661268ca269c86b8d59d25b3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fac292d93fdb313099e98cce928b3a524c92c94
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/54a454c5e41f5e2cb70c8163140ce095c5d5eefd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f6696481eedfd5752b4b56eed715d0b0fe48b9c5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f898f9ec7c73c5697ee462681e7ea6984ee1f3d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a5f5d9e94dead312d32c366b917c64e552b72f7
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98629 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98629 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-3xrv-9p49-wqm3 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98629 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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