Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
keys: Check the authorization payload in process keyring searches
An authorization payload and its saved credentials must remain valid
while search_process_keyrings_rcu() searches the requestor's keyrings.
The function validates the authorization key, then separately loads
payload.data[0] and unconditionally reads rka->cred. Validation does
not prevent request_key_auth_revoke() from clearing the payload.
A request-key helper can assume authority and fork a descendant that
inherits the authorization key. If the descendant misses in its own
keyrings, it falls back to the saved requestor credentials. Successful
target instantiation invalidates the authorization key without clearing
the payload. After the helper exits, UMH_WAIT_PROC returns to the
requester, which calls complete_request_key() and revokes that key.
With the descendant paused after validation, the paths can interleave
as follows:
1. The descendant enters search_process_keyrings_rcu() under RCU and
key_validate() succeeds.
2. The helper instantiates the target, invalidates the authorization
key, and exits.
3. The requester resumes from UMH_WAIT_PROC, calls
complete_request_key(), and revokes the authorization key.
request_key_auth_revoke() sets its payload pointer to NULL.
4. The descendant loads NULL and dereferences rka->cred.
This NULL dereference can oops the kernel. RCU delays payload disposal
but does not prevent the pointer from being cleared.
Load the payload with dereference_key_rcu() and require a non-NULL
result before validating the authorization key and searching its saved
credentials. A non-NULL payload and its credentials remain alive for
the caller's RCU read-side section; a cleared payload skips the fallback
search and follows the existing error selection.
KASAN report as below:
Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc0000000005: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI
KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000028-0x000000000000002f]
RIP: 0010:search_process_keyrings_rcu+0x32b/0x790
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.3 | 5.10.273 |
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 | 7.2.14-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.115-1 | — |
| 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 26.10 | linux +8 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 26.04 LTS | linux +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux +52 | No fix yet | — |
Show 13 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 +3 | 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-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-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-aws-5.4 +6 | No fix yet | — |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | kernel-source | 7.3.3-1.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:12497-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.12.115-140.210 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3448 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.12 +11 | 1:6.12.115-140.210.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-3448 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | 6.6.161.1-1 | — |
Advisories 3
- WID-SEC-2026-4302 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen nicht spezifizierten Angriff BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-3448 Important: kernel6.12 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Nov 12, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:12497-1 kernel-devel-7.3.3-1.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Nov 10, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/14fb6fad526b35a7ebd121f1dd313abe652e0aa6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/458cf9715af6aff3ac8d2ec60bd59e9d6236fd0f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d3d2fffe933e538472ccafe5bbc7109488b9ce3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/26949c2e4c461e9e620e935bc22717f36a40b615
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/984a178d54515779a1bee100b92a6cee8777c830
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b86db7993051d05810601654e886a1e78e1fa495
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b4dfda438fee3c6faa15d9b421c373de6a0e476f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/49f4e768540d25d8852ef750313afda6a4774871
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a0ec45bf577a9b4d4960567f20d3877ef480de9