Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4 algif_skcipher crypto/algif_skcipher.c skcipher_recvmsg iv information disclosure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.1$0-$5k2.61+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. It has been classified as problematic. This affects the function skcipher_recvmsg of the file crypto/algif_skcipher.c of the component algif_skcipher. The manipulation of the argument iv leads to information disclosure. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-74578. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.4. This issue affects the function skcipher_recvmsg of the file crypto/algif_skcipher.c of the component algif_skcipher. The manipulation of the argument iv with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. Impacted is confidentiality. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: algif_skcipher - force synchronous processing on trees without ctx->state The AIO/async path in skcipher_recvmsg() passes the socket-wide ctx->iv directly into the skcipher request. After io_submit() the socket lock is dropped and the request is processed asynchronously, so a concurrent sendmsg(ALG_SET_IV) can overwrite ctx->iv and make the in-flight request run under an attacker-controlled IV. For CTR/stream modes this is IV/keystream reuse and lets an unprivileged user recover the plaintext of a concurrent operation. Snapshotting ctx->iv into per-request storage for the async path is not sufficient. For ciphers with statesize == 0 - which includes cbc and ctr - the MSG_MORE inter-chunk IV chaining is carried solely by the in-place req->iv writeback, which a snapshot redirects into per-request memory that af_alg_free_resources() releases on completion, silently producing wrong output. Writing the IV back from the completion callback instead is not possible either: that would require lock_sock() there, but the callback can run in softirq/atomic context, so it must not sleep. Make the operation synchronous instead, which removes both the IV race and any writeback race. This is equivalent to the upstream resolution, commit fcc77d33a34c ("net: Remove support for AIO on sockets"), which removed the AIO socket path across net/ entirely and so produces the same end state for this file. This patch deviates from that commit deliberately: rather than removing AIO socket support tree-wide, which would be far too invasive for stable, it removes only the AIO branch in crypto/algif_skcipher.c. io_submit() now completes synchronously; AF_ALG async is rarely used in practice. The -EIOCBQUEUED check in skcipher_recvmsg() is now dead but harmless, and is left alone to keep the fix minimal. Tested on 6.6.y: attacker IV injection dropped from 2296/200000 to 0/200000 after the change; MSG_MORE chunked CTR output bit-identical to single-shot.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-74578 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/16/2026). The attack technique deployed by this issue is T1592 according to MITRE ATT&CK.

Upgrading to version 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch bf09b0be8e851f050e98da702d247c14d81b591a/73dd3bf704ca6c20639de70c08e9a10bee904a95/f1a87ca0843d74482402a206ea2dfb315ee9acbd/7b91e51d0eb7cbb07f7f086f9176bd93dbbc85dd/60eafc7b08c6689ea3ad39eff8d97aefc8a087c7/d7860b682da55433b5da0591b0e4c1982ecd2689/b05defc41b27c7d0c05c45f67bf5b91c28f93669/fcc77d33a34cf271702e8daafb6c593e4626776d is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-59939). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.1

VulDB Base Score: 5.3
VulDB Temp Score: 5.1
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Information disclosure
CWE: CWE-200 / CWE-284 / CWE-266
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 5.10.261/5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: bf09b0be8e851f050e98da702d247c14d81b591a/73dd3bf704ca6c20639de70c08e9a10bee904a95/f1a87ca0843d74482402a206ea2dfb315ee9acbd/7b91e51d0eb7cbb07f7f086f9176bd93dbbc85dd/60eafc7b08c6689ea3ad39eff8d97aefc8a087c7/d7860b682da55433b5da0591b0e4c1982ecd2689/b05defc41b27c7d0c05c45f67bf5b91c28f93669/fcc77d33a34cf271702e8daafb6c593e4626776d

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/16/2026 +1 days Advisory disclosed
08/16/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/16/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74578 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74578
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-391151
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 08/16/2026 10:48
Updated: 08/16/2026 11:09
Changes: 08/16/2026 10:48 (61), 08/16/2026 11:09 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

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