Bug 2492733 (CVE-2026-53228)

Summary: CVE-2026-53228 kernel: ipv6: sit: reload inner IPv6 header after GSO offloads
Product: [Other] Security Response Reporter: OSIDB Bzimport <bzimport>
Component: vulnerabilityAssignee: Product Security <prodsec-ir-bot>
Status: NEW --- QA Contact:
Severity: medium Docs Contact:
Priority: medium    
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 Simple Internet Transition (SIT) tunnel driver for IPv6. When processing network traffic with Generic Segmentation Offload (GSO) enabled, the driver may use a stale pointer to the inner IPv6 header after the socket buffer (skb) head has been reallocated. This can lead to reading from freed memory, potentially allowing an attacker to cause a denial of service or gain access to sensitive information.
 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 2026-06-25 10:02:54 UTC 
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ipv6: sit: reload inner IPv6 header after GSO offloads

ipip6_tunnel_xmit() caches the inner IPv6 header pointer at function
entry and continues using it after iptunnel_handle_offloads().

For GSO skbs, iptunnel_handle_offloads() calls skb_header_unclone().
When the skb header is cloned, skb_header_unclone() can call
pskb_expand_head(), which may move the skb head. The pskb_expand_head()
contract requires pointers into the skb header to be reloaded after the
call.

If the later skb_realloc_headroom() branch is not taken, SIT uses the
stale iph6 pointer to read the inner hop limit and DS field. That can
read from a freed skb head after the old head's remaining clone is
released.

Reload iph6 after the offload helper succeeds and before subsequent
reads from the inner IPv6 header. Keep the existing reload after
skb_realloc_headroom(), since that branch can also replace the skb.
Comment 1 Keith Grant 2026-06-25 22:08:03 UTC 
Upstream advisory:
https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/2026062507-CVE-2026-53228-f3f1@gregkh/T