CVE-2026-74666
Received Received - Intake

Race Condition in Linux Kernel Packet Handling

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-74666, 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: packet: synchronize pressure clearing with ring reconfiguration packet_set_ring() updates the RX ring state under sk_receive_queue.lock, but used to publish the tpacket receive mode through po->prot_hook.func after releasing that lock. packet_poll() and packet_recvmsg() can then run the pressure clearing path after the ring has been cleared while still seeing tpacket_rcv, causing __packet_rcv_has_room() to dereference stale or NULL ring storage. Move the existing receive hook assignment into the same sk_receive_queue.lock section as the ring state update. Keep the assignment otherwise unchanged, including on TX ring reconfiguration, to avoid adding behavior changes that are not required for the fix. Serialize packet_recvmsg() pressure clearing with the same queue lock only after PACKET_SOCK_PRESSURE has been observed. If the flag is clear and the socket has moved away from tpacket_rcv, packet_set_ring() has already detached the socket and waited for synchronize_net(), so no new packet input can set the flag again. packet_poll() already holds sk_receive_queue.lock, so it uses the new unlocked helper directly.

CVSS Scores

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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

Currently, no data is known.

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN

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Executive Summary

This is a Linux kernel vulnerability where packet_set_ring() updates the RX ring state under a lock but publishes the receive mode after releasing the lock. This allows packet_poll() and packet_recvmsg() to run pressure clearing while still seeing stale ring data, potentially causing NULL pointer dereferences.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's packet socket implementation and may not have direct detection commands. Monitor kernel logs for packet-related errors or crashes after ring reconfiguration. Check for kernel panic or oops messages related to packet sockets.

Impact Analysis

This could lead to kernel crashes or memory corruption if exploited, potentially causing system instability or denial of service. Local attackers with sufficient privileges might trigger this issue.

Mitigation Strategies

Update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version that includes the fix for this vulnerability. Avoid using packet sockets in configurations that may trigger the race condition until patched.

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