CVE-2026-53228
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: sit: reload inner IPv6 header after GSO offloads ipip6_tunnel_xmit() caches the inner IPv6 header pointer at function entry and continues using it after iptunnel_handle_offloads(). For GSO skbs, iptunnel_handle_offloads() calls skb_header_unclone(). When the skb header is cloned, skb_header_unclone() can call pskb_expand_head(), which may move the skb head. The pskb_expand_head() contract requires pointers into the skb header to be reloaded after the call. If the later skb_realloc_headroom() branch is not taken, SIT uses the stale iph6 pointer to read the inner hop limit and DS field. That can read from a freed skb head after the old head's remaining clone is released. Reload iph6 after the offload helper succeeds and before subsequent reads from the inner IPv6 header. Keep the existing reload after skb_realloc_headroom(), since that branch can also replace the skb.
View on NVDAnalysis
A critical Use-After-Free vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel networking stack, specifically within the IPv6 SIT (IPv6-in-IPv4) tunneling implementation. The flaw can lead to memory corruption when processing packet headers, potentially resulting in a system crash or arbitrary code execution on affected systems.
Relevant roles
Severity
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HEPSS
Technical description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: sit: reload inner IPv6 header after GSO offloads ipip6_tunnel_xmit() caches the inner IPv6 header pointer at function entry and continues using it after iptunnel_handle_offloads(). For GSO skbs, iptunnel_handle_offloads() calls skb_header_unclone(). When the skb header is cloned, skb_header_unclone() can call pskb_expand_head(), which may move the skb head. The pskb_expand_head() contract requires pointers into the skb header to be reloaded after the call. If the later skb_realloc_headroom() branch is not taken, SIT uses the stale iph6 pointer to read the inner hop limit and DS field. That can read from a freed skb head after the old head's remaining clone is released. Reload iph6 after the offload helper succeeds and before subsequent reads from the inner IPv6 header. Keep the existing reload after skb_realloc_headroom(), since that branch can also replace the skb.
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0bfa7bba1f41aaf5f0604dc712bb4701493e3aa0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1132e5edc2866c3530be17622153a597095f0e43
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fa49b2715e1bad12ce3b0fa64e234d9582c8193
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/59f80c919713250fe5d25a4d9aea4e49580fa1d4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c67b44edb3598d234efae6e44649eb993c03da5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb658c2f5f7977c2a1c77c9f239f4bc8196edb5c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0e42f0c4337b1f220de1ddd63f47197c7dee4de
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fddd41445a0537b093e6b3f6232c9933cad1e48b