Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: Fix too early release of tcx_entry
Pedro Pinto and later independently also Hyunwoo Kim and Wongi Lee reported
an issue that the tcx_entry can be released too early leading to a use
after free (UAF) when an active old-style ingress or clsact qdisc with a
shared tc block is later replaced by another ingress or clsact instance.
Essentially, the sequence to trigger the UAF (one example) can be as follows:
1. A network namespace is created
2. An ingress qdisc is created. This allocates a tcx_entry, and
&tcx_entry->miniq is stored in the qdisc's miniqp->p_miniq. At the
same time, a tcf block with index 1 is created.
3. chain0 is attached to the tcf block. chain0 must be connected to
the block linked to the ingress qdisc to later reach the function
tcf_chain0_head_change_cb_del() which triggers the UAF.
4. Create and graft a clsact qdisc. This causes the ingress qdisc
created in step 1 to be removed, thus freeing the previously linked
tcx_entry:
rtnetlink_rcv_msg()
=> tc_modify_qdisc()
=> qdisc_create()
=> clsact_init() [a]
=> qdisc_graft()
=> qdisc_destroy()
=> __qdisc_destroy()
=> ingress_destroy() [b]
=> tcx_entry_free()
=> kfree_rcu() // tcx_entry freed
5. Finally, the network namespace is closed. This registers the
cleanup_net worker, and during the process of releasing the
remaining clsact qdisc, it accesses the tcx_entry that was
already freed in step 4, causing the UAF to occur:
cleanup_net()
=> ops_exit_list()
=> default_device_exit_batch()
=> unregister_netdevice_many()
=> unregister_netdevice_many_notify()
=> dev_shutdown()
=> qdisc_put()
=> clsact_destroy() [c]
=> tcf_block_put_ext()
=> tcf_chain0_head_change_cb_del()
=> tcf_chain_head_change_item()
=> clsact_chain_head_change()
=> mini_qdisc_pair_swap() // UAF
There are also other variants, the gist is to add an ingress (or clsact)
qdisc with a specific shared block, then to replace that qdisc, waiting
for the tcx_entry kfree_rcu() to be executed and subsequently accessing
the current active qdisc's miniq one way or another.
The correct fix is to turn the miniq_active boolean into a counter. What
can be observed, at step 2 above, the counter transitions from 0->1, at
step [a] from 1->2 (in order for the miniq object to remain active during
the replacement), then in [b] from 2->1 and finally [c] 1->0 with the
eventual release. The reference counter in general ranges from [0,2] and
it does not need to be atomic since all access to the counter is protected
by the rtnl mutex. With this in place, there is no longer a UAF happening
and the tcx_entry is freed at the correct time.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.6 | 6.6.41 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 6.9.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.9.10-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-48.48 | USN-7089-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1018.20 | USN-7089-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1017.20 | USN-7089-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp +1 | 6.8.0-1017.19 | USN-7095-1, USN-7089-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1013.17 | USN-7089-6 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1002.4 | USN-7156-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1015.15 | USN-7089-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-48.48.3 | USN-7089-7 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1017.19.1 | USN-7095-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.8 | 6.8.0-1016.16 | USN-7089-4 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1015.16 | USN-7089-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1014.16 | USN-7089-5 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv | 6.8.0-48.48.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1018.19~22.04.1 | USN-7089-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1017.20~22.04.1 | USN-7090-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 +1 | 6.8.0-1017.19~22.04.1 | USN-7095-1, USN-7089-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-48.48~22.04.1 | USN-7089-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-48.48.3~22.04.1 | USN-7089-7 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1015.15~22.04.1 | USN-7089-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +25 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-48.48.1~22.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +26 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +13 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2013.14 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1011.11 | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | rv +77 | 5.14.0-570.12.1.el9_6 | RHSA-2025:6966 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-64kb +6 | 6.4.0-150600.23.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-azure +2 | 6.4.0-150600.8.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3194-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150600.23.22.1.150600.12.8.3 | SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-17.1.1.51 | SUSE-SU-2025:20044-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0_Update_2 +1 | 1-1.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20047-1, SUSE-SU-2025:20044-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-rt +1 | 6.4.0-10.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20047-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-19.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20044-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150600.23.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_2 | 1-150600.1.3.2 | SUSE-SU-2024:3195-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_4 | 1-150600.13.3.3 | SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-150600.10.8.3 | SUSE-SU-2024:3195-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-syms-rt | 6.4.0-150600.10.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3195-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | dtb-aarch64 +10 | 6.4.0-150600.23.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-azure +2 | 6.4.0-150600.8.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3194-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150600.23.22.1.150600.12.8.3 | SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-150600.10.8.3 | SUSE-SU-2024:3195-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-syms-rt | 6.4.0-150600.10.8.1 | SUSE-SU-2024:3195-1 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.43.1-7 | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | bpftool | 7.5.0-802.el9_6 | ELSA-2025-6966 |
| Oracle Linux 9 | rv +28 | 5.14.0-570.12.1.0.1.el9_6 | ELSA-2025-6966 |
Advisories 18
- USN-7156-1 linux-gkeop vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7095-1 linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8, linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7090-1 linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 29, 2026
- USN-7089-3 linux-aws, linux-aws-6.8, linux-oracle, linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- USN-7089-6 linux-gke vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- USN-7089-7 linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- USN-7089-2 linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-ibm vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- USN-7089-1 linux, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- USN-7089-5 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- USN-7089-4 linux-oem-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 26, 2026
- RHSA-2025:6966 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20047-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20044-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- WID-SEC-2024-1646 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Manipulation von Dateien BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Feb 16, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3195-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3383-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2024:3194-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2025-6966 Moderate: kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · May 16, 2025