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Linux kernel before 6.6.157.1‑1 may crash on network cleanup
published 1 month ago
Summary
Versions of the Linux kernel older than 6.6.157.1‑1 contain a coding error that can cause the system to crash when a network namespace is removed. An ordinary (unprivileged) user can trigger this condition, leading to a sudden stop of services. Updating the kernel to the latest version resolves the issue.
What to do
- Update kernel to version 6.6.157.1-1.
Affected software
| Ecosystem | Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux:3 | azure | kernel | <= 6.6.150.1-1 |
| Azure Linux:3 | – | kernel |
<= 6.6.152.1-1 < 6.6.157.1-1 Fix: upgrade to 6.6.157.1-1
|
Original advisory text
CVE-2026-89488 affecting package kernel for versions less than 6.6.157.1-1
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
openvswitch: Fix CT limit teardown use-after-free
Packet processing uses CT limit state under RCU, while netns teardown
frees that state under ovs_mutex. The CT limit pointer was neither removed
from readers nor protected by a grace period, allowing packet processing to
dereference the freed state.
An unprivileged user can trigger this bug from a user and network
namespace, causing a slab-use-after-free in ovs_ct_execute() when the
netns is torn down.
Publish the CT limit pointer through RCU, remove it before teardown, and
wait for readers before freeing its contents. Keep ovs_mutex around
individual CT limit updates, and use the RCU read-side lock while GET
traverses the RCU-protected limit lists.
Netns teardown detaches the RCU-protected CT limit state in the pernet
.pre_exit callback while holding ovs_mutex. The pernet core guarantees an
RCU grace period between the .pre_exit and .exit callbacks, so the .exit
callback completes the teardown without adding any extra synchronization.
The netlink command handlers do not need NULL checks because the userspace
netlink socket holds an active reference to its network namespace while a
request is processed. The per-netns exit path therefore cannot run
concurrently with SET, DEL, or GET for that socket's namespace.
openvswitch: Fix CT limit teardown use-after-free
Packet processing uses CT limit state under RCU, while netns teardown
frees that state under ovs_mutex. The CT limit pointer was neither removed
from readers nor protected by a grace period, allowing packet processing to
dereference the freed state.
An unprivileged user can trigger this bug from a user and network
namespace, causing a slab-use-after-free in ovs_ct_execute() when the
netns is torn down.
Publish the CT limit pointer through RCU, remove it before teardown, and
wait for readers before freeing its contents. Keep ovs_mutex around
individual CT limit updates, and use the RCU read-side lock while GET
traverses the RCU-protected limit lists.
Netns teardown detaches the RCU-protected CT limit state in the pernet
.pre_exit callback while holding ovs_mutex. The pernet core guarantees an
RCU grace period between the .pre_exit and .exit callbacks, so the .exit
callback completes the teardown without adding any extra synchronization.
The netlink command handlers do not need NULL checks because the userspace
netlink socket holds an active reference to its network namespace while a
request is processed. The per-netns exit path therefore cannot run
concurrently with SET, DEL, or GET for that socket's namespace.
References
Timeline
Published11 Sep 2026
Updated2 Oct 2026
First seen23 Sep 2026
Sources
AZL-100205 · OSV
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