CVE-2026-74434
Received Received - Intake

Use-After-Free in Linux Kernel rxrpc

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-74434, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

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: rxrpc: Don't move a peeked OOB message onto the pending queue rxrpc_recvmsg_oob() takes a received oob message off recvmsg_oobq and, if a response is needed, moves it onto the pending_oobq tree. However, only the unlink from recvmsg_oobq is guarded by MSG_PEEK; the move onto pending_oobq always runs. As a result, reading a challenge with MSG_PEEK leaves the skb on recvmsg_oobq while also adding it to pending_oobq. Since struct sk_buff's rbnode shares storage with its next and prev pointers, rb_insert_color() overwrites the list linkage, and the skb, which holds a single reference, becomes reachable from both queues at once. When the socket is closed both queues are drained in turn. While draining recvmsg_oobq, __skb_unlink() follows the next and prev pointers that rbnode has overwritten and writes to a bad address. Also, as the skb holds a single reference but is freed from each queue, both the skb and the connection reference it holds are released twice. This leads to memory corruption and to a use-after-free caused by the connection refcount underflow. MSG_PEEK does not consume the message from the queue, so only unlink it from recvmsg_oobq and then move it onto pending_oobq or free it when the message is actually consumed.

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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
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

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

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This is a Linux kernel vulnerability where MSG_PEEK flag misuse in rxrpc_recvmsg_oob() causes an sk_buff to be incorrectly placed on two queues simultaneously. The bug leads to memory corruption and use-after-free due to double-free of the sk_buff and connection reference.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's rxrpc subsystem and requires kernel-level inspection. Detection involves checking kernel logs for crashes or memory corruption related to rxrpc operations. Commands like dmesg | grep rxrpc or journalctl -k | grep rxrpc may reveal errors. Kernel oops messages or segmentation faults in rxrpc-related processes could indicate exploitation.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could exploit this to cause system crashes, memory corruption, or execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. Systems using vulnerable Linux kernel versions are at risk of denial-of-service or privilege escalation attacks.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest Linux kernel patches addressing this issue. If immediate patching is not possible, disable the rxrpc module using modprobe -r rxrpc or blacklist it in /etc/modprobe.d/. Monitor kernel logs for signs of exploitation and restrict network access to services using rxrpc if feasible.

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