Linux Kernel up to 7.1.12/7.2.2 AF_PACKET net/packet/af_packet.c tpacket_destruct_skb race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.12/7.2.2. It has been classified as very critical. Affected by this issue is the function tpacket_destruct_skb of the file net/packet/af_packet.c of the component AF_PACKET. Performing a manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-80841. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.12/7.2.2. It has been classified as very critical. This affects the function tpacket_destruct_skb of the file net/packet/af_packet.c of the component AF_PACKET. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/packet: defer vmalloc TX_RING free until skbs finish AF_PACKET TX_RING skbs keep a raw pointer to their ring frame. The skb page references preserve page-backed ring blocks after pg_vec is freed, but they do not preserve a vmalloc mapping. tpacket_destruct_skb() currently drops the pending reference before writing the timestamp and TP_STATUS_AVAILABLE to the frame. Move the decrement after those stores. The smp_wmb() in __packet_set_status() orders the frame stores before the decrement. Also recheck pending TX frames under pg_vec_lock before non-closing ring replacement, so a racing send cannot add a pending skb between the initial check and the ring swap. Ring allocation can produce a mixture of page-backed and vmalloc-backed blocks. Allocate deferred-work storage during TX ring setup when the first vmalloc-backed block is encountered, and keep its pointer in the pg_vec allocation header. If allocation fails, return -ENOMEM from ring setup. On socket close, a non-NULL pointer identifies a vmalloc-backed vector without a scan. If TX skbs remain, defer the whole vector to system_long_wq. After pg_vec is detached, a late destructor can skip the pending decrement. Use socket write-memory accounting as the deferred lifetime gate instead: an skb remains charged through its final sock_wfree(), after all ring-frame accesses. The delayed work retains a socket reference and reschedules itself until no TX skbs remain. Move pending_refcnt release to packet_sock_destruct() so late skb destructors and deferred cleanup can safely use it after packet_release(). Page-backed teardown remains synchronous, and no lock is added to the TX completion hot path.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-80841 since 08/26/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/04/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.1.13, 7.2.3 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0189dce07db2dc059ae0570e06758ec4233c6e11/550d00aa58193fb649a09a9c9e338c685adad784/992cc9f94ca924089a506ba9b327caa9af797529 is able to eliminate this problem.

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

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 7.1.13/7.2.3/7.3-rc1
Patch: 0189dce07db2dc059ae0570e06758ec4233c6e11/550d00aa58193fb649a09a9c9e338c685adad784/992cc9f94ca924089a506ba9b327caa9af797529

Timelineinfo

08/26/2026 CVE reserved
09/04/2026 +9 days Advisory disclosed
09/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-80841 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-80841
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-398949

Entryinfo

Created: 09/04/2026 18:29
Changes: 09/04/2026 18:29 (22), 09/04/2026 18:30 (38)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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