CVE-2026-43167
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
xfrm: always flush state and policy upon NETDEV_UNREGISTER event
syzbot is reporting that "struct xfrm_state" refcount is leaking.
This is because commit d77e38e612a0 ("xfrm: Add an IPsec hardware offloading API") implemented xfrm_dev_unregister() as no-op despite xfrm_dev_state_add() from xfrm_state_construct() acquires a reference to "struct net_device". I guess that that commit expected that NETDEV_DOWN event is fired before NETDEV_UNREGISTER event fires, and also assumed that xfrm_dev_state_add() is called only if (dev->features & NETIF_F_HW_ESP) != 0.
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Sabrina Dubroca identified steps to reproduce the same symptoms as below.
Like these steps indicate, the NETIF_F_HW_ESP bit can be cleared after xfrm_dev_state_add() acquired a reference to "struct net_device". Also, xfrm_dev_state_add() does not check for the NETIF_F_HW_ESP bit when acquiring a reference to "struct net_device".
Commit 03891f820c21 ("xfrm: handle NETDEV_UNREGISTER for xfrm device") re-introduced the NETDEV_UNREGISTER event to xfrm_dev_event(), but that commit for unknown reason chose to share xfrm_dev_down() between the NETDEV_DOWN event and the NETDEV_UNREGISTER event. I guess that that commit missed the behavior in the previous paragraph.
Therefore, we need to re-introduce xfrm_dev_unregister() in order to release the reference to "struct net_device" by unconditionally flushing state and policy.
Detalles técnicos trazas, registros y código del informe original
unregister_netdevice: waiting for netdevsim0 to become free. Usage count = 2
ref_tracker: netdev@ffff888052f24618 has 1/1 users at
__netdev_tracker_alloc include/linux/netdevice.h:4400 [inline]
netdev_tracker_alloc include/linux/netdevice.h:4412 [inline]
xfrm_dev_state_add+0x3a5/0x1080 net/xfrm/xfrm_device.c:316
xfrm_state_construct net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:986 [inline]
xfrm_add_sa+0x34ff/0x5fa0 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:1022
xfrm_user_rcv_msg+0x58e/0xc00 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:3507
netlink_rcv_skb+0x158/0x420 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2550
xfrm_netlink_rcv+0x71/0x90 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:3529
netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1318 [inline]
netlink_unicast+0x5aa/0x870 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1344
netlink_sendmsg+0x8c8/0xdd0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1894
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:727 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:742 [inline]
____sys_sendmsg+0xa5d/0xc30 net/socket.c:2592
___sys_sendmsg+0x134/0x1d0 net/socket.c:2646
__sys_sendmsg+0x16d/0x220 net/socket.c:2678
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0xcd/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
echo 0 > /sys/bus/netdevsim/new_device
dev=$(ls -1 /sys/bus/netdevsim/devices/netdevsim0/net/)
ip xfrm state add src 192.168.13.1 dst 192.168.13.2 proto esp \
spi 0x1000 mode tunnel aead 'rfc4106(gcm(aes))' $key 128 \
offload crypto dev $dev dir out
ethtool -K $dev esp-hw-offload off
echo 0 > /sys/bus/netdevsim/del_deviceCVSS
- Versión: 3.1
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
- Puntuación base: 5.5
Probabilidad de explotación (EPSS)
- Probabilidad de explotación en los próximos 30 días: 0.16%
- Percentil entre todas las CVEs puntuadas: 5
- Fecha de la puntuación: 5/10/2026
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, de FIRST) estima la probabilidad de que una vulnerabilidad sea explotada en 30 días. Complementa a CVSS (impacto) y a CISA KEV (explotación confirmada).
Tecnologías afectadas (1)
CWE
- NVD-CWE-noinfo
Referencias
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/166801e49a5b5fc127b8c9e2f110f303cfddfbc3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4efa91a28576054aae0e6dad9cba8fed8293aef8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59581778792cbaf8ad788f4a21dc663ce986050e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c75c455ecd3bfd2f36abf66edb7021c4fa19ec4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a3c8fede034fa27892f87c863cbd5493167d17ed
JSON original (NVD)
Mostrar
{
"id": "CVE-2026-43167",
"cveTags": [],
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"type": "Primary",
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"cvssData": {
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"version": "3.1",
"baseScore": 5.5,
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H",
"integrityImpact": "NONE",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
},
"impactScore": 3.6,
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8
}
]
},
"affected": [
{
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"affectedData": [
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"vendor": "Linux",
"product": "Linux",
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"versionType": "git"
}
],
"programFiles": [
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],
"defaultStatus": "unaffected"
},
{
"repo": "https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git",
"vendor": "Linux",
"product": "Linux",
"versions": [
{
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{
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"version": "6.12.75",
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},
{
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"version": "6.18.16",
"versionType": "semver",
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*"
},
{
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"version": "6.19.6",
"versionType": "semver",
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.19.*"
},
{
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.0",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix",
"lessThanOrEqual": "*"
}
],
"programFiles": [
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],
"defaultStatus": "affected"
}
]
}
],
"published": "2026-05-06T12:16:34.913",
"references": [
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/166801e49a5b5fc127b8c9e2f110f303cfddfbc3",
"tags": [
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],
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4efa91a28576054aae0e6dad9cba8fed8293aef8",
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"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
},
{
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"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8c75c455ecd3bfd2f36abf66edb7021c4fa19ec4",
"tags": [
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"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
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{
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"tags": [
"Patch"
],
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
}
],
"vulnStatus": "Analyzed",
"weaknesses": [
{
"type": "Primary",
"source": "nvd@nist.gov",
"description": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "NVD-CWE-noinfo"
}
]
}
],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nxfrm: always flush state and policy upon NETDEV_UNREGISTER event\n\nsyzbot is reporting that \"struct xfrm_state\" refcount is leaking.\n\n unregister_netdevice: waiting for netdevsim0 to become free. Usage count = 2\n ref_tracker: netdev@ffff888052f24618 has 1/1 users at\n __netdev_tracker_alloc include/linux/netdevice.h:4400 [inline]\n netdev_tracker_alloc include/linux/netdevice.h:4412 [inline]\n xfrm_dev_state_add+0x3a5/0x1080 net/xfrm/xfrm_device.c:316\n xfrm_state_construct net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:986 [inline]\n xfrm_add_sa+0x34ff/0x5fa0 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:1022\n xfrm_user_rcv_msg+0x58e/0xc00 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:3507\n netlink_rcv_skb+0x158/0x420 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2550\n xfrm_netlink_rcv+0x71/0x90 net/xfrm/xfrm_user.c:3529\n netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1318 [inline]\n netlink_unicast+0x5aa/0x870 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1344\n netlink_sendmsg+0x8c8/0xdd0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1894\n sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:727 [inline]\n __sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:742 [inline]\n ____sys_sendmsg+0xa5d/0xc30 net/socket.c:2592\n ___sys_sendmsg+0x134/0x1d0 net/socket.c:2646\n __sys_sendmsg+0x16d/0x220 net/socket.c:2678\n do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]\n do_syscall_64+0xcd/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94\n entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f\n\nThis is because commit d77e38e612a0 (\"xfrm: Add an IPsec hardware\noffloading API\") implemented xfrm_dev_unregister() as no-op despite\nxfrm_dev_state_add() from xfrm_state_construct() acquires a reference\nto \"struct net_device\".\nI guess that that commit expected that NETDEV_DOWN event is fired before\nNETDEV_UNREGISTER event fires, and also assumed that xfrm_dev_state_add()\nis called only if (dev->features & NETIF_F_HW_ESP) != 0.\n\nSabrina Dubroca identified steps to reproduce the same symptoms as below.\n\n echo 0 > /sys/bus/netdevsim/new_device\n dev=$(ls -1 /sys/bus/netdevsim/devices/netdevsim0/net/)\n ip xfrm state add src 192.168.13.1 dst 192.168.13.2 proto esp \\\n spi 0x1000 mode tunnel aead 'rfc4106(gcm(aes))' $key 128 \\\n offload crypto dev $dev dir out\n ethtool -K $dev esp-hw-offload off\n echo 0 > /sys/bus/netdevsim/del_device\n\nLike these steps indicate, the NETIF_F_HW_ESP bit can be cleared after\nxfrm_dev_state_add() acquired a reference to \"struct net_device\".\nAlso, xfrm_dev_state_add() does not check for the NETIF_F_HW_ESP bit\nwhen acquiring a reference to \"struct net_device\".\n\nCommit 03891f820c21 (\"xfrm: handle NETDEV_UNREGISTER for xfrm device\")\nre-introduced the NETDEV_UNREGISTER event to xfrm_dev_event(), but that\ncommit for unknown reason chose to share xfrm_dev_down() between the\nNETDEV_DOWN event and the NETDEV_UNREGISTER event.\nI guess that that commit missed the behavior in the previous paragraph.\n\nTherefore, we need to re-introduce xfrm_dev_unregister() in order to\nrelease the reference to \"struct net_device\" by unconditionally flushing\nstate and policy."
}
],
"lastModified": "2026-06-17T10:49:03.630",
"configurations": [
{
"nodes": [
{
"negate": false,
"cpeMatch": [
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"sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67"
}