Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xfrm: use hlist_del_init_rcu for state_cache and state_cache_input

Commit 14acf9652e56 ("xfrm: defensively unhash xfrm_state lists in
__xfrm_state_delete") converted bydst/bysrc/byseq/byspi from
hlist_del_rcu() to hlist_del_init_rcu() so that a second
__xfrm_state_delete() on the same object becomes a no-op rather than a
write through LIST_POISON pprev. It missed state_cache and
state_cache_input, which kept hlist_del_rcu():

- hlist_del_rcu() leaves pprev = LIST_POISON2 (non-NULL), so
hlist_unhashed() returns false.
- hlist_del_init_rcu() leaves pprev = NULL, so hlist_unhashed()
returns true.

A second __xfrm_state_delete() therefore enters __hlist_del() on the
already-deleted state_cache/state_cache_input nodes and does
WRITE_ONCE(*pprev, next) through LIST_POISON2 — a write use-after-free
once the slab is reused. The corruption can in turn cause a subsequent
hlist_for_each_entry_rcu traversal to follow a dangling next pointer,
producing the read use-after-free reported in xfrm_input_state_lookup().

Switch state_cache and state_cache_input to hlist_del_init_rcu() to
match the other four lists, closing the write use-after-free and, with
it, the read use-after-free it spawns.
Published: 2026-10-06
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
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Remediation

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History

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416

Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: use hlist_del_init_rcu for state_cache and state_cache_input Commit 14acf9652e56 ("xfrm: defensively unhash xfrm_state lists in __xfrm_state_delete") converted bydst/bysrc/byseq/byspi from hlist_del_rcu() to hlist_del_init_rcu() so that a second __xfrm_state_delete() on the same object becomes a no-op rather than a write through LIST_POISON pprev. It missed state_cache and state_cache_input, which kept hlist_del_rcu(): - hlist_del_rcu() leaves pprev = LIST_POISON2 (non-NULL), so hlist_unhashed() returns false. - hlist_del_init_rcu() leaves pprev = NULL, so hlist_unhashed() returns true. A second __xfrm_state_delete() therefore enters __hlist_del() on the already-deleted state_cache/state_cache_input nodes and does WRITE_ONCE(*pprev, next) through LIST_POISON2 — a write use-after-free once the slab is reused. The corruption can in turn cause a subsequent hlist_for_each_entry_rcu traversal to follow a dangling next pointer, producing the read use-after-free reported in xfrm_input_state_lookup(). Switch state_cache and state_cache_input to hlist_del_init_rcu() to match the other four lists, closing the write use-after-free and, with it, the read use-after-free it spawns.
Title xfrm: use hlist_del_init_rcu for state_cache and state_cache_input
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-10-06T08:45:04.548Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.328Z

Link: CVE-2026-98230

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-06T09:18:10.397

Modified: 2026-10-06T09:18:10.397

Link: CVE-2026-98230

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-10-06T12:15:15Z

Weaknesses