Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8 IPv4 fib_nhc_update_mtu use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.88

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8. Affected by this vulnerability is the function fib_nhc_update_mtu of the component IPv4. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-74656. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8 and classified as very critical. This vulnerability affects the function fib_nhc_update_mtu of the component IPv4. 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: ipv4: fix use-after-free in fib_nhc_update_mtu() fib_nhc_update_mtu() walks the nexthop exception table under RTNL, but RTNL does not serialize this walk with PMTU exception updates. The walk uses rcu_dereference_protected() with a constant true condition without holding fnhe_lock. The following interleaving can therefore occur: CPU 0 CPU 1 fib_nhc_update_mtu() update_or_create_fnhe() load fnhe spin_lock_bh(&fnhe_lock) fnhe_remove_oldest() unlink fnhe kfree_rcu(fnhe, rcu) <quiescent state> access fnhe after grace period KASAN reported: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in fib_nhc_update_mtu+0x3df/0x410 Read of size 8 at addr ffff888107d49000 by task poc/90 Call Trace: fib_nhc_update_mtu+0x3df/0x410 fib_sync_mtu+0x7a/0xd0 fib_netdev_event+0x229/0x3f0 netif_set_mtu_ext+0x33a/0x570 dev_set_mtu+0x88/0x120 The same walk updates fnhe_pmtu and fnhe_mtu_locked. These fields form a pair and other writers serialize them with fnhe_lock. RCU alone prevents reclamation, but would still allow concurrent writers to leave a mixed pair. Walk the table under RCU and acquire fnhe_lock only while updating each exception. RCU keeps the current entry alive while the short critical section serializes its paired PMTU fields. This avoids holding the global lock while scanning all 2048 buckets for every nexthop.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-74656 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/22/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.265, 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45 or 7.1.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch fd39e711866498ae94fcf9acf6f422a4f045b681/e1e602d6b22d5cb1641c4459c487eb18bf569e0a/e00f7d2b5f2540a3415a229c982af7a25ff6362e/dfe388da13aa784851e5ebbea90afbb099075761/5a28a4b22dde92f9d293b94236314b8d6181dc4a/63996ffc594d128ccec8fc0983f91effd2d3adc4/ed503eaad62f20cdd5122d7c3078a648a99c8f16/bc5bde9ce3cc36502839dfe98e068f7303a50982 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
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: 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 5.10.265/5.15.216/6.1.183/6.6.152/6.12.104/6.18.45/7.1.9
Patch: fd39e711866498ae94fcf9acf6f422a4f045b681/e1e602d6b22d5cb1641c4459c487eb18bf569e0a/e00f7d2b5f2540a3415a229c982af7a25ff6362e/dfe388da13aa784851e5ebbea90afbb099075761/5a28a4b22dde92f9d293b94236314b8d6181dc4a/63996ffc594d128ccec8fc0983f91effd2d3adc4/ed503eaad62f20cdd5122d7c3078a648a99c8f16/bc5bde9ce3cc36502839dfe98e068f7303a50982

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/22/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74656 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74656
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-394438

Entryinfo

Created: 08/22/2026 18:41
Changes: 08/22/2026 18:41 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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