CVE-2026-74588
Received Received - Intake

Use-After-Free in Linux Kernel SCTP Stack

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-74588, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-08-22

Last updated on: 2026-08-22

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sctp: keep chunk->transport in step with the list it is queued on __sctp_outq_flush_rtx() moves a gap-acked chunk onto another transport's transmitted list without updating chunk->transport: if (chunk->tsn_gap_acked) { list_move_tail(&chunk->transmitted_list, &transport->transmitted); continue; } The chunk then sits on a live transport's list while chunk->transport still names a different one. If that transport is removed - sctp_assoc_rm_peer() from an ASCONF Delete-IP - sctp_transport_free() RCU-frees it and the chunk is left with a dangling pointer. sctp_assoc_rm_peer() scrubs peer->transmitted and asoc->outqueue.out_chunk_list, but the chunk is on neither. The pointer is not followed while tsn_gap_acked is set. A SACK that reneges on the TSN clears the flag, and the next SACK reaches tchunk->transport->flight_size -= sctp_data_size(tchunk); inside the freed transport. KASAN reports a slab-use-after-free read in sctp_check_transmitted(), freed from sctp_assoc_rm_peer(). Both the removal and the SACKs come from the association peer. Set chunk->transport at the move. The ordinary resend path needs nothing: it reaches its list_move_tail() only after sctp_packet_append_chunk() returned SCTP_XMIT_OK, and __sctp_packet_append_chunk() has rebound the chunk by then. Discovered by XBOW, triaged by Baul Lee <baul.lee@xbow.com>

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Meta Information

Published
2026-08-22
Last Modified
2026-08-22
Generated
2026-08-22
AI Q&A
2026-08-22
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 use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SCTP implementation. It occurs when a chunk of data is moved between transport lists without updating its transport pointer, leading to a dangling pointer. If the original transport is removed, the chunk may later access freed memory when processing SACKs, causing a slab-use-after-free error.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's SCTP implementation and may not have direct detection commands. Monitoring for kernel crashes or slab-use-after-free errors in SCTP-related logs could indicate exploitation. Check kernel logs for SCTP-related errors or crashes.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to cause a denial-of-service by triggering a kernel crash or potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges. It affects systems using the Linux kernel with SCTP protocol enabled.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Linux kernel to the latest stable version that includes the fix for this vulnerability. If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling SCTP support if not required, or restrict network access to SCTP ports to reduce exposure.

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