CVE-2026-80519Critical vulnerability in Linux kernel ovpn module
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: finish crypto callback cleanup before peer release Crypto completion callbacks hold both key-slot and peer references. The peer reference pins the netdev, and dropping the last peer reference can let netdev unregistration and module removal make progress. Do not release that peer reference before the callback has finished its own cleanup. If ovpn_crypto_key_slot_put runs after ovpn_peer_put, it can schedule an RCU callback backed by module text after ovpn_cleanup rcu_barrier has already run. The TX error path also freed the remaining skb after ovpn_peer_put, leaving callback cleanup outside the peer/netdev lifetime window. Release the key slot and free any remaining skb first, then drop the peer reference as the last callback action.
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A critical vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel's ovpn (OpenVPN acceleration) module. This memory corruption issue occurs during peer release and crypto callback cleanup, potentially allowing for remote code execution or system-wide crashes in environments utilizing kernel-level OpenVPN acceleration.
Relevant roles
Severity
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HEPSS
No EPSS score yet (CVE may be too fresh).
Technical description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: finish crypto callback cleanup before peer release Crypto completion callbacks hold both key-slot and peer references. The peer reference pins the netdev, and dropping the last peer reference can let netdev unregistration and module removal make progress. Do not release that peer reference before the callback has finished its own cleanup. If ovpn_crypto_key_slot_put runs after ovpn_peer_put, it can schedule an RCU callback backed by module text after ovpn_cleanup rcu_barrier has already run. The TX error path also freed the remaining skb after ovpn_peer_put, leaving callback cleanup outside the peer/netdev lifetime window. Release the key slot and free any remaining skb first, then drop the peer reference as the last callback action.