Bug 2541042 (CVE-2026-97940)

Summary: CVE-2026-97940 kernel: ipv6: fix fib6 walker UAF on seq stop
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: akhatavk, aos-team-art-private, asdas, dpaolell, jdelft, jupierce, lgarciaa, mbiarnes, ppalepu, ppostler, prdhamdh, rhel-process-autobot, sghai, sidsharm, suppawar, vlaad, 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 routing subsystem. A race condition during route iteration termination can allow an internal routing table walker structure to remain on an active list after its associated memory is released. A local user could exploit this flaw during concurrent route deletions, triggering a use-after-free condition that can result in a Denial of Service (DoS) via a system crash or potential privilege escalation.
 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 2026-09-25 10:44:51 UTC 
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ipv6: fix fib6 walker UAF on seq stop

ipv6_route_iter_active() treats a walker in FWS_U at the table root as
already unlinked. fib6_del_route() can move a still-linked walker into
that same state when the current leaf is the last route at the root,
so ipv6_route_native_seq_stop() skips fib6_walker_unlink(). The seq
private object can then be freed while it remains on
net->ipv6.fib6_walkers. A later route deletion walks the dangling list
and uses the freed walker.

Use the list head as membership state and reinitialize it when
unlinking. Keep the existing w->node check so a never-started iterator
with a zeroed private object is not treated as linked.

The same stop helper is used by /proc/net/ipv6_route and by the BPF
ipv6_route iterator. The BPF show path only widens the race.
Comment 1 Keith Grant 2026-09-29 21:18:23 UTC 
Upstream advisory:
https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-97940.mbox