Bug 2481972 (CVE-2026-46099)

Summary: CVE-2026-46099 kernel: net: ipv6: fix NOREF dst use in seg6 and rpl lwtunnels
Product: [Other] Security Response Reporter: OSIDB Bzimport <bzimport>
Component: vulnerabilityAssignee: Product Security <prodsec-ir-bot>
Status: NEW --- QA Contact:
Severity: high Docs Contact:
Priority: high    
Version: unspecifiedCC: rhel-process-autobot, watson-tool-maintainers
Target Milestone: ---Keywords: Security
Target Release: ---   
Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
Whiteboard:
Fixed In Version: Doc Type: ---
Doc Text:
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's IPv6 networking implementation, specifically within the `seg6` and `rpl` lwtunnels. A race condition can occur when handling destination cache entries, where a `NOREF` (no reference) destination object is used after it has been freed. This use-after-free vulnerability can lead to system instability or a denial of service (DoS) on systems configured with `PREEMPT_RT` (Preemptible Real-Time) kernel.
Story Points: ---
Clone Of: Environment:
Last Closed: Type: ---
Regression: --- Mount Type: ---
Documentation: --- CRM:
Verified Versions: Category: ---
oVirt Team: --- RHEL 7.3 requirements from Atomic Host:
Cloudforms Team: --- Target Upstream Version:
Embargoed:

Description OSIDB Bzimport 2026-05-27 15:05:00 UTC
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: ipv6: fix NOREF dst use in seg6 and rpl lwtunnels

seg6_input_core() and rpl_input() call ip6_route_input() which sets a
NOREF dst on the skb, then pass it to dst_cache_set_ip6() invoking
dst_hold() unconditionally.
On PREEMPT_RT, ksoftirqd is preemptible and a higher-priority task can
release the underlying pcpu_rt between the lookup and the caching
through a concurrent FIB lookup on a shared nexthop.
Simplified race sequence:

  ksoftirqd/X                       higher-prio task (same CPU X)
  -----------                       --------------------------------
  seg6_input_core(,skb)/rpl_input(skb)
    dst_cache_get()
      -> miss
    ip6_route_input(skb)
      -> ip6_pol_route(,skb,flags)
         [RT6_LOOKUP_F_DST_NOREF in flags]
        -> FIB lookup resolves fib6_nh
           [nhid=N route]
        -> rt6_make_pcpu_route()
           [creates pcpu_rt, refcount=1]
             pcpu_rt->sernum = fib6_sernum
             [fib6_sernum=W]
           -> cmpxchg(fib6_nh.rt6i_pcpu,
                      NULL, pcpu_rt)
              [slot was empty, store succeeds]
      -> skb_dst_set_noref(skb, dst)
         [dst is pcpu_rt, refcount still 1]

                                    rt_genid_bump_ipv6()
                                      -> bumps fib6_sernum
                                         [fib6_sernum from W to Z]
                                    ip6_route_output()
                                      -> ip6_pol_route()
                                        -> FIB lookup resolves fib6_nh
                                           [nhid=N]
                                        -> rt6_get_pcpu_route()
                                             pcpu_rt->sernum != fib6_sernum
                                             [W <> Z, stale]
                                          -> prev = xchg(rt6i_pcpu, NULL)
                                          -> dst_release(prev)
                                             [prev is pcpu_rt,
                                              refcount 1->0, dead]

    dst = skb_dst(skb)
    [dst is the dead pcpu_rt]
    dst_cache_set_ip6(dst)
      -> dst_hold() on dead dst
      -> WARN / use-after-free

For the race to occur, ksoftirqd must be preemptible (PREEMPT_RT without
PREEMPT_RT_NEEDS_BH_LOCK) and a concurrent task must be able to release
the pcpu_rt. Shared nexthop objects provide such a path, as two routes
pointing to the same nhid share the same fib6_nh and its rt6i_pcpu
entry.

Fix seg6_input_core() and rpl_input() by calling skb_dst_force() after
ip6_route_input() to force the NOREF dst into a refcounted one before
caching.
The output path is not affected as ip6_route_output() already returns a
refcounted dst.

Comment 3 errata-xmlrpc 2026-07-22 10:08:00 UTC
This issue has been addressed in the following products:

  Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9

Via RHSA-2026:43307 https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:43307

Comment 5 errata-xmlrpc 2026-07-24 10:04:21 UTC
This issue has been addressed in the following products:

  Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10

Via RHSA-2026:45114 https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:45114

Comment 7 errata-xmlrpc 2026-08-26 00:18:07 UTC
This issue has been addressed in the following products:

  Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions

Via RHSA-2026:59663 https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59663

Comment 8 errata-xmlrpc 2026-08-26 00:44:34 UTC
This issue has been addressed in the following products:

  Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9.2 Update Services for SAP Solutions

Via RHSA-2026:59662 https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59662