Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
af_unix: Give up GC if MSG_PEEK intervened.
Igor Ushakov reported that GC purged the receive queue of
an alive socket due to a race with MSG_PEEK with a nice repro.
This is the exact same issue previously fixed by commit
cbcf01128d0a ("af_unix: fix garbage collect vs MSG_PEEK").
After GC was replaced with the current algorithm, the cited
commit removed the locking dance in unix_peek_fds() and
reintroduced the same issue.
The problem is that MSG_PEEK bumps a file refcount without
interacting with GC.
Consider an SCC containing sk-A and sk-B, where sk-A is
close()d but can be recv()ed via sk-B.
The bad thing happens if sk-A is recv()ed with MSG_PEEK from
sk-B and sk-B is close()d while GC is checking unix_vertex_dead()
for sk-A and sk-B.
GC thread User thread
--------- -----------
unix_vertex_dead(sk-A)
-> true <------.
\
`------ recv(sk-B, MSG_PEEK)
invalidate !! -> sk-A's file refcount : 1 -> 2
close(sk-B)
-> sk-B's file refcount : 2 -> 1
unix_vertex_dead(sk-B)
-> true
Initially, sk-A's file refcount is 1 by the inflight fd in sk-B
recvq. GC thinks sk-A is dead because the file refcount is the
same as the number of its inflight fds.
However, sk-A's file refcount is bumped silently by MSG_PEEK,
which invalidates the previous evaluation.
At this moment, sk-B's file refcount is 2; one by the open fd,
and one by the inflight fd in sk-A. The subsequent close()
releases one refcount by the former.
Finally, GC incorrectly concludes that both sk-A and sk-B are dead.
One option is to restore the locking dance in unix_peek_fds(),
but we can resolve this more elegantly thanks to the new algorithm.
The point is that the issue does not occur without the subsequent
close() and we actually do not need to synchronise MSG_PEEK with
the dead SCC detection.
When the issue occurs, close() and GC touch the same file refcount.
If GC sees the refcount being decremented by close(), it can just
give up garbage-collecting the SCC.
Therefore, we only need to signal the race during MSG_PEEK with
a proper memory barrier to make it visible to the GC.
Let's use seqcount_t to notify GC when MSG_PEEK occurs and let
it defer the SCC to the next run.
This way no locking is needed on the MSG_PEEK side, and we can
avoid imposing a penalty on every MSG_PEEK unnecessarily.
Note that we can retry within unix_scc_dead() if MSG_PEEK is
detected, but we do not do so to avoid hung task splat from
abusive MSG_PEEK calls.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.1.141 – < 6.1.183, 6.6.93 – < 6.6.142, 6.10 | 6.1.183 |
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 | 6.19.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.94-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 6.1.187-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1022.26 | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux | 6.17.0-29.29 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-aws +1 | 6.17.0-1015.15 | USN-8310-1, USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-azure-fde | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-gcp | 6.17.0-1018.19 | USN-8374-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-oracle | 6.17.0-1014.14 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-raspi | 6.17.0-1017.17 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-realtime | 6.17.0-1013.15 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux-riscv | 6.17.0-29.29.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-117.117 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1055.58 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.17 | 6.17.0-1017.17~24.04.1 | USN-8374-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1056.62 | USN-8278-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.17 | 6.17.0-1015.15~24.04.1 | USN-8310-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1058.65 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1058.61 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | 6.17.0-1018.19~24.04.1 | USN-8374-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1054.60 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1041.44 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.17 | 6.17.0-29.29~24.04.1 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1055.56 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-117.117.1 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1054.57 | USN-8289-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | 6.17.0-1026.26 | USN-8508-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1054.57.1 | USN-8289-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1024.24 | USN-8296-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1023.23 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1054.55 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | 6.17.0-1014.14~24.04.1 | USN-8277-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1056.60 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +18 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.17 | 6.17.0-29.29.1~24.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1032.33 | USN-8499-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1057.60~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1 | USN-8440-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.65~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-124.124~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1055.56~22.04.1 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1 | USN-8289-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1054.55~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-117.117~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2045.46 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1051.52 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.17 | 6.17.0-1013.15~24.04.1 | USN-8277-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1051.52~22.04.1 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1055.58+fips1 | USN-8278-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1059.65+fips1 | USN-8393-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | 6.8.0-116.116+fips1 | USN-8296-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1058.61+fips1 | USN-8278-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22812-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | SUSE-SU-2026:22769-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-rt +5 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22769-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22742-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21388-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-rt +11 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21388-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.18.25-55.108 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1693 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +11 | 1:6.18.25-55.108.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1693 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.142.1-1 | — |
Advisories 21
- WID-SEC-2026-0861 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8440-1 linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8374-1 linux-aws-6.17, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8508-1 linux-nvidia-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8499-1 linux-xilinx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8393-1 linux-azure-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8278-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-fips, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8, linux-raspi, linux-raspi-realtime, linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8310-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8289-1 linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-lowlatency vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8289-2 linux-nvidia-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8277-2 linux-oracle-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8278-2 linux-azure vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8277-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-hwe-6.17, linux-oem-6.17, linux-oracle, linux-raspi, linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 5, 2026
- USN-8296-1 linux-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- USN-8296-2 linux-nvidia-tegra vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22812-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:21388-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 24, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22769-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22742-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 23, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1693 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · May 19, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/980999a96e1ad043f1197606e5d637219cb102b9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3106f326f67c03dd9da4ca64663d11e40138cf40
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3dd56fb5683ba80bf8d7a2f9aa21cfa53f05202
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/72cf49ad50c16270b52bc512d9c2df5743922968
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/37dd7ab332396eb8dd80b2dc7ea4b61abf767436
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e5b31d988a41549037b8d8721a3c3cae893d8670