Linux Kernel up to 6.18.41/7.1.5/7.2-rc4 ovpn ovpn_peer_release_p2p use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.44-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as very critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.41/7.1.5/7.2-rc4. The impacted element is the function ovpn_peer_release_p2p of the component ovpn. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-68342. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.41/7.1.5/7.2-rc4 and classified as very critical. This vulnerability affects the function ovpn_peer_release_p2p of the component ovpn. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: avoid putting unrelated P2P peer on socket release ovpn_peer_release_p2p() is called when an OVPN UDP socket is being destroyed. It checks the currently published P2P peer and releases it only if that peer still uses the socket being destroyed. A peer replacement can publish a new peer before the old UDP socket is destroyed. When the old socket destruction path runs afterwards, ovpn_peer_release_p2p() observes the new peer through ovpn->peer. Since the new peer uses a different socket, the function takes the socket mismatch branch. That branch still calls ovpn_peer_put(peer). At this point, however, peer is the currently published replacement peer, not the peer associated with the socket being destroyed. Dropping its reference can free it while ovpn->peer still points to it, leading to later use-after-free accesses from the peer and socket cleanup paths. KASAN reports this as a slab-use-after-free on the kmalloc-1k ovpn_peer object. In the reproducer, the object is allocated from ovpn_peer_new() via ovpn_nl_peer_new_doit(), and freed through ovpn_peer_release_rcu() from RCU callback processing. Observed access sites include ovpn_peer_remove(), ovpn_socket_release(), ovpn_nl_peer_del_notify(), and unlock_ovpn(). Fix this by returning from the socket mismatch branch without putting the peer.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-68342 since 07/30/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 08/10/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.42, 7.1.6 or 7.2-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c5bf6b39be235ef578af4d39872f0c68cda3b937/016a50379d17b886d12a4efa5211a418e035fe70/b52c5103f64ee825996ca1ab8df7283cde8c5f86 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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Version

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.42/7.1.6/7.2-rc5
Patch: c5bf6b39be235ef578af4d39872f0c68cda3b937/016a50379d17b886d12a4efa5211a418e035fe70/b52c5103f64ee825996ca1ab8df7283cde8c5f86

Timelineinfo

07/30/2026 CVE reserved
08/10/2026 +11 days Advisory disclosed
08/10/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/10/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-68342 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-68342
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-387724

Entryinfo

Created: 08/10/2026 18:05
Changes: 08/10/2026 18:05 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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