Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ax25: Remove broken autobind
Binding AX25 socket by using the autobind feature leads to memory leaks
in ax25_connect() and also refcount leaks in ax25_release(). Memory
leak was detected with kmemleak:
================================================================
unreferenced object 0xffff8880253cd680 (size 96):
backtrace:
__kmalloc_node_track_caller_noprof (./include/linux/kmemleak.h:43)
kmemdup_noprof (mm/util.c:136)
ax25_rt_autobind (net/ax25/ax25_route.c:428)
ax25_connect (net/ax25/af_ax25.c:1282)
__sys_connect_file (net/socket.c:2045)
__sys_connect (net/socket.c:2064)
__x64_sys_connect (net/socket.c:2067)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83)
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe (arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:130)
================================================================
When socket is bound, refcounts must be incremented the way it is done
in ax25_bind() and ax25_setsockopt() (SO_BINDTODEVICE). In case of
autobind, the refcounts are not incremented.
This bug leads to the following issue reported by Syzkaller:
================================================================
ax25_connect(): syz-executor318 uses autobind, please contact jreuter@yaina.de
------------[ cut here ]------------
refcount_t: decrement hit 0; leaking memory.
WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 5317 at lib/refcount.c:31 refcount_warn_saturate+0xfa/0x1d0 lib/refcount.c:31
Modules linked in:
CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 5317 Comm: syz-executor318 Not tainted 6.14.0-rc4-syzkaller-00278-gece144f151ac #0
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2~bpo12+1 04/01/2014
RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0xfa/0x1d0 lib/refcount.c:31
...
Call Trace:
<TASK>
__refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:336 [inline]
refcount_dec include/linux/refcount.h:351 [inline]
ref_tracker_free+0x6af/0x7e0 lib/ref_tracker.c:236
netdev_tracker_free include/linux/netdevice.h:4302 [inline]
netdev_put include/linux/netdevice.h:4319 [inline]
ax25_release+0x368/0x960 net/ax25/af_ax25.c:1080
__sock_release net/socket.c:647 [inline]
sock_close+0xbc/0x240 net/socket.c:1398
__fput+0x3e9/0x9f0 fs/file_table.c:464
__do_sys_close fs/open.c:1580 [inline]
__se_sys_close fs/open.c:1565 [inline]
__x64_sys_close+0x7f/0x110 fs/open.c:1565
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/common.c:52 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0xf3/0x230 arch/x86/entry/common.c:83
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
...
</TASK>
================================================================
Considering the issues above and the comments left in the code that say:
"check if we can remove this feature. It is broken."; "autobinding in this
may or may not work"; - it is better to completely remove this feature than
to fix it because it is broken and leads to various kinds of memory bugs.
Now calling connect() without first binding socket will result in an
error (-EINVAL). Userspace software that relies on the autobind feature
might get broken. However, this feature does not seem widely used with
this specific driver as it was not reliable at any point of time, and it
is already broken anyway. E.g. ax25-tools and ax25-apps packages for
popular distributions do not use the autobind feature for AF_AX25.
Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with Syzkaller.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 2.6.12 | 6.1.191 |
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 | 6.16.3-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.115-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | No fix yet | — |
| Debian 12 | linux-6.12 | 6.12.115-2~deb12u1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-azure-fde | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.04 | linux | 6.14.0-22.22 | USN-7594-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.04 | linux-aws +3 | 6.14.0-1007.7 | USN-7594-3, USN-7594-2, USN-7594-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.04 | linux-gcp | 6.14.0-1008.8 | USN-7594-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.04 | linux-realtime | 6.14.0-1004.4 | USN-7594-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux +27 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1035.38 | USN-8781-1 |
Show 19 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +59 | 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 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime +2 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 22.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-preview 22.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +21 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux +12 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +7 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux +3 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-64kb +6 | 6.4.0-150700.53.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01951-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-azure +2 | 6.4.0-150700.20.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01967-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150700.53.3.1.150700.17.2.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01951-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-64kb +6 | 6.4.0-150600.23.50.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-azure +2 | 6.4.0-150600.8.37.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01707-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-coco +3 | 6.4.0-15061.21.coco15sp6.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01919-1 |
| SLES 15 SP6 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150600.23.50.1.150600.12.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 |
Show 6 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-29.1.21.7 | SUSE-SU-2025:20354-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0_Update_7 +1 | 1-1.2 | SUSE-SU-2025:20355-1, SUSE-SU-2025:20354-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-rt +1 | 6.4.0-31.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20355-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-29.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20354-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-29.1.21.7 | SUSE-SU-2025:20343-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-livepatch-MICRO-6-0_Update_7 +1 | 1-1.2 | SUSE-SU-2025:20344-1, SUSE-SU-2025:20343-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-rt +1 | 6.4.0-31.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20344-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-source +2 | 6.4.0-29.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:20343-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150700.53.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01951-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_1 | 1-150700.1.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01972-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_1 | 1-150700.15.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01951-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150600.23.50.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6-RT_Update_11 | 1-150600.1.3.2 | SUSE-SU-2025:01964-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP6 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP6_Update_11 | 1-150600.13.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | kernel-rt +3 | 6.4.0-150700.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01972-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP6 | kernel-rt +3 | 6.4.0-150600.10.39.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01964-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | dtb-aarch64 +10 | 6.4.0-150600.23.50.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-azure +2 | 6.4.0-150600.8.37.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01707-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150600.23.50.1.150600.12.22.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | kernel-rt +3 | 6.4.0-150600.10.39.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:01964-1 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | No fix yet | — |
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | kernel | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 16
- WID-SEC-2025-0844 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8781-1 linux-nvidia-tegra vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20343-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20355-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20344-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:20354-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01972-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01614-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01967-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01919-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01951-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01964-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:01707-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- USN-7594-2 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 4, 2026
- USN-7594-1 linux, linux-gcp, linux-raspi, linux-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 4, 2026
- USN-7594-3 linux-aws, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7bffc5aad1e89354151150af2d4ded20b3c702a0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f364eb60987a55712bcfb9a69235bf3f31bfab5a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/064bc39c23f72efbfbf189786da711d253451033
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/61203fdd3e35519db9a98b6ff8983c620ffc4696
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f6efbabceb6b2914ee9bafb86d9a51feae9cce8