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CVE-2026-98596

Linux: ipv6: Fix dst leak for uncached routes.

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.20%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 9% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in5045aa25f3790dcdb158a58ac60ccf8da42959aaFixed versionCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 19 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 5045aa25f3790dcdb158a58ac60ccf8da42959aaLinuxCVE List

A fixed version on one release line is not the upgrade target for every line. Check your exact version and any vendor backports.

Description

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

ipv6: Fix dst leak for uncached routes.

ip6_route_output_flags(), ip6_rt_put_flags(), and ip6_dst_check() detect an uncached route by list_empty(&rt->dst.rt_uncached), which replaced the static DST_NOCACHE flag check in commit a4c2fd7f7891 ("net: remove DST_NOCACHE flag").

When a device is unregistered, rt6_uncached_list_flush_dev() unlinks uncached routes tied to the device from rt6_uncached_list.

Previously, they were moved to another list with list_move() (__list_del_entry() + list_add()), and since commit 98aa546af5e4 ("inet: remove (struct uncached_list)->quarantine"), the routes are just unlinked with list_del_init().

If list_del_init() runs concurrently, list_empty() evaluates to true; ip6_route_output_flags() calls dst_hold_safe() incorrectly and ip6_rt_put_flags() skips ip6_rt_put(), leaking dst, and thus dev tied via rt->from as well.

The same race is partially fixed by commit 9a6f0c4d5796 ("dst: fix races in rt6_uncached_list_del() and rt_del_uncached_list()").

Let's check rt6->dst.rt_uncached_list instead.

Note that IPv4 does not have the same issue.

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 10

  • Linuxaffected: 98aa546af5e4f180439c82da403cc77926d3953b before 5045aa25f3790dcdb158a58ac60ccf8da42959aaCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 98aa546af5e4f180439c82da403cc77926d3953b before ed902d5546fb9c142b3216d8eec914fa1bc0aa80CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 98aa546af5e4f180439c82da403cc77926d3953b before f9722746df13a8a29103c847ef56b02c11ce0963CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 98aa546af5e4f180439c82da403cc77926d3953b before be31fe6333f534155e6b408f1ef6d77974bb41aaCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 6.11CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 6.11CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.112 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.55 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.9 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 4