Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
xfrm: always flush state and policy upon NETDEV_UNREGISTER event
syzbot is reporting that "struct xfrm_state" refcount is leaking.
unregister_netdevice: waiting for netdevsim0 to become free. Usage count = 2
ref_tracker: netdev@ffff888052f24618 has 1/1 users at
__netdev_tracker_alloc include/linux/netdevice.h:4400 [inline]
netdev_tracker_alloc include/linux/netdevice.h:4412 [inline]
xfrm_dev_state_add+0x3a5/0x1080 net/xfrm/xfrm_device.c:316
xfrm_state_construct net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:986 [inline]
xfrm_add_sa+0x34ff/0x5fa0 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:1022
xfrm_user_rcv_msg+0x58e/0xc00 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:3507
netlink_rcv_skb+0x158/0x420 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2550
xfrm_netlink_rcv+0x71/0x90 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:3529
netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1318 [inline]
netlink_unicast+0x5aa/0x870 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1344
netlink_sendmsg+0x8c8/0xdd0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1894
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:727 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:742 [inline]
____sys_sendmsg+0xa5d/0xc30 net/socket.c:2592
___sys_sendmsg+0x134/0x1d0 net/socket.c:2646
__sys_sendmsg+0x16d/0x220 net/socket.c:2678
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0xcd/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
This is because commit d77e38e612a0 ("xfrm: Add an IPsec hardware
offloading API") implemented xfrm_dev_unregister() as no-op despite
xfrm_dev_state_add() from xfrm_state_construct() acquires a reference
to "struct net_device".
I guess that that commit expected that NETDEV_DOWN event is fired before
NETDEV_UNREGISTER event fires, and also assumed that xfrm_dev_state_add()
is called only if (dev->features & NETIF_F_HW_ESP) != 0.
Sabrina Dubroca identified steps to reproduce the same symptoms as below.
echo 0 > /sys/bus/netdevsim/new_device
dev=$(ls -1 /sys/bus/netdevsim/devices/netdevsim0/net/)
ip xfrm state add src 192.168.13.1 dst 192.168.13.2 proto esp \
spi 0x1000 mode tunnel aead 'rfc4106(gcm(aes))' $key 128 \
offload crypto dev $dev dir out
ethtool -K $dev esp-hw-offload off
echo 0 > /sys/bus/netdevsim/del_device
Like these steps indicate, the NETIF_F_HW_ESP bit can be cleared after
xfrm_dev_state_add() acquired a reference to "struct net_device".
Also, xfrm_dev_state_add() does not check for the NETIF_F_HW_ESP bit
when acquiring a reference to "struct net_device".
Commit 03891f820c21 ("xfrm: handle NETDEV_UNREGISTER for xfrm device")
re-introduced the NETDEV_UNREGISTER event to xfrm_dev_event(), but that
commit for unknown reason chose to share xfrm_dev_down() between the
NETDEV_DOWN event and the NETDEV_UNREGISTER event.
I guess that that commit missed the behavior in the previous paragraph.
Therefore, we need to re-introduce xfrm_dev_unregister() in order to
release the reference to "struct net_device" by unconditionally flushing
state and policy.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 4.12 | 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 | 6.19.6-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.85-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | No fix yet | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1026.30 | — |
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux +8 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-134.134 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1060.63 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1063.71 | USN-8606-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1062.69 | USN-8607-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-nvidia | 6.8.0-1039.42 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1063.69 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1058.64 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1045.48 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1060.61 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-134.134.1 | USN-8497-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1058.61 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1058.61.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1029.30 | USN-8498-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1057.58 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1060.64 | USN-8492-4 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +26 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1032.33 | USN-8499-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +49 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1 | USN-8606-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1 | USN-8609-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1 | USN-8619-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1 | USN-8497-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1 | USN-8492-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1 | — |
Show 16 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2049.50 | USN-8492-3 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1055.56 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime +1 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1 | USN-8492-1 |
| 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-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1060.63+fips1 | USN-8492-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1062.69+fips1 | USN-8492-5 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | 6.8.0-134.134+fips1 | USN-8492-5 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1063.69+fips1 | USN-8492-1 |
| 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-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-gcp +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-64kb +4 | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.2.150700.17.41.4 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-docs +2 | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| 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 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22904-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22903-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-source +1 | 6.4.0-50.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:22904-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22903-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22810-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22809-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-source +1 | 6.4.0-50.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:22810-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22809-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_18 | 1-150700.1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3130-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_19 | 1-150700.15.3.4 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-150700.7.67.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3130-1 |
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-6.12.77-99.140 +1 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1702, ALAS2023-2026-1543 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.12 +14 | 1:6.12.77-99.140.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1543 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +14 | 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1702 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 9 | kernel-uek +34 | 6.12.0-204.92.4.2.el10uek | ELSA-2026-50372 |
Advisories 27
- USN-8607-1 linux-azure-fde vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8609-1 linux-azure-fde-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8619-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- USN-8606-1 linux-azure, linux-azure-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 13, 2026
- WID-SEC-2026-1405 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8499-1 linux-xilinx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8497-1 linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 7, 2026
- USN-8492-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-fips, linux-ibm, linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8, linux-oracle, linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-2 linux-aws-6.8, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-nvidia-lowlatency, linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8498-1 linux-nvidia-tegra vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-3 linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-5 linux-azure-fips, linux-fips vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8492-4 linux-raspi vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22903-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22904-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22809-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22810-1 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
- SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 22, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3130-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 21, 2026
- ELSA-2026-50372 Important: Unbreakable Enterprise kernel security update (Oracle Linux 9) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Jul 2, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1543 Important: kernel6.12 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 16, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1702 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 16, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4df5a7da376e35089b8b601a86ff8a4cf997e2f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/166801e49a5b5fc127b8c9e2f110f303cfddfbc3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a3c8fede034fa27892f87c863cbd5493167d17ed
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59581778792cbaf8ad788f4a21dc663ce986050e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c75c455ecd3bfd2f36abf66edb7021c4fa19ec4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4efa91a28576054aae0e6dad9cba8fed8293aef8