Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: Reject struct_ops registration that uses module ptr and the module btf_id is missing
There is a UAF report in the bpf_struct_ops when CONFIG_MODULES=n.
In particular, the report is on tcp_congestion_ops that has
a "struct module *owner" member.
For struct_ops that has a "struct module *owner" member,
it can be extended either by the regular kernel module or
by the bpf_struct_ops. bpf_try_module_get() will be used
to do the refcounting and different refcount is done
based on the owner pointer. When CONFIG_MODULES=n,
the btf_id of the "struct module" is missing:
WARN: resolve_btfids: unresolved symbol module
Thus, the bpf_try_module_get() cannot do the correct refcounting.
Not all subsystem's struct_ops requires the "struct module *owner" member.
e.g. the recent sched_ext_ops.
This patch is to disable bpf_struct_ops registration if
the struct_ops has the "struct module *" member and the
"struct module" btf_id is missing. The btf_type_is_fwd() helper
is moved to the btf.h header file for this test.
This has happened since the beginning of bpf_struct_ops which has gone
through many changes. The Fixes tag is set to a recent commit that this
patch can apply cleanly. Considering CONFIG_MODULES=n is not
common and the age of the issue, targeting for bpf-next also.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.9 | 6.12.13 |
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 | 6.12.13-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.13-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.11 +1 | 6.11.0-1015.15~24.04.1 | USN-7521-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.11 | 6.11.0-26.26~24.04.1 | USN-7521-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11 | 6.11.0-1014.15~24.04.1 | USN-7521-3 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.11 | 6.11.0-1010.10 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.11 | 6.11.0-1022.22 | USN-7521-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | kernel-uek +34 | 6.12.0-101.33.4.3.el10uek | ELSA-2025-20530, ELSA-2025-20480 |
Advisories 5
- WID-SEC-2025-0499 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-7521-1 linux, linux-azure, linux-azure-6.11, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-6.11, linux-hwe-6.11, linux-oem-6.11, linux-raspi, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 30, 2026
- USN-7521-3 linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 30, 2026
- ELSA-2025-20530 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Aug 18, 2025
- ELSA-2025-20480 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 17, 2025