CVE-2026-74289
Received Received - Intake

Use-After-Free in Linux Kernel IPv4 FIB

Publication date: 2026-08-15

Last updated on: 2026-08-15

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv4: fib: Don't dump dying fib_info in fib_leaf_notify(). syzbot reported use-after-free in nsim_fib4_prepare_event(). [0] The problem is that the following functions call fib_info_hold() / refcount_inc() while dumping fib_info under RCU, which is unsafe. * mlxsw_sp_router_fib4_event() * rocker_router_fib_event() * nsim_fib4_prepare_event() refcount_inc_not_zero() must be used, but it would be too late there. Let's guarantee the lifetime of fib_info in fib_leaf_notify(). Note that IPv6 does not need the corresponding change since fib6_table_dump() holds fib6_table.tb6_lock. [0]: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: lib/refcount.c:25 at refcount_warn_saturate+0x9f/0x110 lib/refcount.c:25, CPU#0: kworker/u8:15/3420 Modules linked in: CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 3420 Comm: kworker/u8:15 Not tainted syzkaller #0 PREEMPT_{RT,(full)} Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Google Compute Engine, BIOS Google 04/18/2026 Workqueue: netns cleanup_net RIP: 0010:refcount_warn_saturate+0x9f/0x110 lib/refcount.c:25 Code: eb 66 85 db 74 3e 83 fb 01 75 4c e8 1b f1 22 fd 48 8d 3d 84 cb f1 0a 67 48 0f b9 3a eb 4a e8 08 f1 22 fd 48 8d 3d 81 cb f1 0a <67> 48 0f b9 3a eb 37 e8 f5 f0 22 fd 48 8d 3d 7e cb f1 0a 67 48 0f RSP: 0018:ffffc9000f2c7270 EFLAGS: 00010293 RAX: ffffffff84a18858 RBX: 0000000000000002 RCX: ffff888032ff9ec0 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000000 RDI: ffffffff8f9353e0 RBP: 0000000000000000 R08: ffff888032ff9ec0 R09: 0000000000000005 R10: 0000000000000100 R11: 0000000000000004 R12: ffff8880570cc000 R13: dffffc0000000000 R14: ffff88802b40563c R15: ffff8880570cc000 FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff888126173000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 00007fb1f4d5d000 CR3: 000000006072a000 CR4: 00000000003526f0 Call Trace: <TASK> __refcount_add include/linux/refcount.h:-1 [inline] __refcount_inc include/linux/refcount.h:366 [inline] refcount_inc include/linux/refcount.h:383 [inline] fib_info_hold include/net/ip_fib.h:629 [inline] nsim_fib4_prepare_event drivers/net/netdevsim/fib.c:930 [inline] nsim_fib_event_schedule_work drivers/net/netdevsim/fib.c:1000 [inline] nsim_fib_event_nb+0x1055/0x1240 drivers/net/netdevsim/fib.c:1043 call_fib_notifier+0x45/0x80 net/core/fib_notifier.c:25 call_fib_entry_notifier net/ipv4/fib_trie.c:90 [inline] fib_leaf_notify net/ipv4/fib_trie.c:2176 [inline] fib_table_notify net/ipv4/fib_trie.c:2194 [inline] fib_notify+0x36b/0x5e0 net/ipv4/fib_trie.c:2217 fib_net_dump net/core/fib_notifier.c:70 [inline] register_fib_notifier+0x184/0x360 net/core/fib_notifier.c:108 nsim_fib_create+0x85d/0x9f0 drivers/net/netdevsim/fib.c:1596 nsim_dev_reload_create drivers/net/netdevsim/dev.c:1604 [inline] nsim_dev_reload_up+0x374/0x7c0 drivers/net/netdevsim/dev.c:1058 devlink_reload+0x501/0x8d0 net/devlink/dev.c:475 devlink_pernet_pre_exit+0x1ff/0x420 net/devlink/core.c:558 ops_pre_exit_list net/core/net_namespace.c:161 [inline] ops_undo_list+0x187/0x940 net/core/net_namespace.c:234 cleanup_net+0x56e/0x800 net/core/net_namespace.c:702 process_one_work kernel/workqueue.c:3314 [inline] process_scheduled_works+0xb5d/0x1860 kernel/workqueue.c:3397 worker_thread+0xa53/0xfc0 kernel/workqueue.c:3478 kthread+0x388/0x470 kernel/kthread.c:436 ret_from_fork+0x514/0xb70 arch/x86/kernel/process.c:158 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 arch/x86/entry/entry_64.S:245 </TASK>

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-15
Last Modified
2026-08-15
Generated
2026-08-15
AI Q&A
2026-08-15
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-74289
EUVD
EUVD-2026-59436

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *

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Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a use-after-free issue in the Linux kernel's IPv4 forwarding implementation. It occurs in the fib_leaf_notify() function when dumping fib_info under RCU (Read-Copy-Update) locks. The problem arises because certain functions (mlxsw_sp_router_fib4_event, rocker_router_fib_event, nsim_fib4_prepare_event) increment the reference count of fib_info objects unsafely during this process, leading to potential memory corruption and crashes.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability involves a use-after-free in the Linux kernel's IPv4 forwarding (fib) subsystem, specifically in fib_leaf_notify(). Detection requires kernel-level monitoring for use-after-free events or crashes in network-related functions. Check kernel logs for refcount warnings or crashes involving fib_info_hold() or related functions. Use tools like dmesg, journalctl, or kernel tracing to identify abnormal behavior in network stack operations.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could cause system instability, including kernel crashes or unexpected reboots, due to the use-after-free condition. It may also lead to denial-of-service conditions if the affected networking components fail. Systems relying on IPv4 forwarding or network namespaces could be particularly affected.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest kernel patches from your Linux distribution to resolve the use-after-free issue in fib_leaf_notify(). If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling IPv4 forwarding temporarily or restricting network namespace operations. Monitor for crashes or unusual network behavior until the patch is applied.

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