Critical severity · published Aug 15, 2026
CVE-2026-72493
net: serialize netif_running() check in enqueue_to_backlog()
9.9
CVSS
0.4%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: serialize netif_running() check in enqueue_to_backlog() Syzbot reported a KASAN slab-use-after-free in fib_rules_lookup(). The root cause is a race condition where packets can escape the backlog flushing during device unregistration (e.g., during netns exit). Commit e9e4dd3267d0 ("net: do not process device backlog during unregistration") introduced a lockless netif_running() check in enqueue_to_backlog() to prevent queuing packets to an unregistering device. However, this creates a TOCTOU race window. A lockless transmitter (like veth_xmit) can pass the check before dev_close() clears IFF_UP. If the transmitter is then delayed, flush_all_backlogs() can run and finish before the transmitter grabs the backlog lock and queues the packet. The packet then escapes the flush and triggers UAF later when processed. Fix this by moving the netif_running() check inside the backlog lock. This serializes the check with the flush work (which also grabs the lock). We then either queue the packet before the flush runs (so it gets flushed), or check netif_running() after the flush/close completes (so it gets dropped).
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Network
Complexity
Low
Privileges
Low
User interaction
None
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Changed
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.4% · higher than 34% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
LI
Linux · Linux
e9e4dd3267d0c5234c5c0f47440456b10875dec9 before cbe10ea090ea9d6fa5ff50c9b44f2a86fe56f0b7; e9e4dd3267d0c5234c5c0f47440456b10875dec9 before b422e3eff0edf0975de4883929adbed28f9d08bc; e9e4dd3267d0c5234c5c0f47440456b10875dec9 before 2fface6e0bbd6314d1d9d071abf2c4d67548511c; e9e4dd3267d0c5234c5c0f47440456b10875dec9 before 46762cefe7f4e5bffc1eb467810a7bbb02e461d7; 78b6803a1961369d0b8350ff1f99b7375bbd7a8f; b5d73d9cdd6be22795499890ea928a6f57ef829c; +11 more · source: vendor
Affected product
LI
Linux
Linux
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