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CVE-2026-98811

Linux: net/sched: cls_api: reclaim an empty proto on the error path

Linux LinuxOperating systems
CVSS
NoneNot scored
ExploitationNo known exploitationNot in CISA KEV, which does not prove it is unexploitedCISA KEV
Exploit odds (EPSS)0.17%Chance of exploitation activity in the next 30 days, higher than 5% of CVEs. Scored 23 Oct 2026FIRST EPSS
Fixed in0fc74e7d97d232095ce64cb45d25f0919df7ad4aAlso 315e4fe65cf02ef052de5e6298c3088e448b7517, 570141625d212fbbcffb9665cb45c0f04610e61a and 1 moreCVE List
Published18 Oct 2026Updated 21 Oct 2026CVE List

What fixes it

  • 0fc74e7d97d232095ce64cb45d25f0919df7ad4aLinuxCVE List
  • 315e4fe65cf02ef052de5e6298c3088e448b7517LinuxCVE List
  • 570141625d212fbbcffb9665cb45c0f04610e61aLinuxCVE List
  • 0bb8eab29b55045281a4963d4557f2776cdf8cfaLinuxCVE 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:

net/sched: cls_api: reclaim an empty proto on the error path

Two racing tc filter add requests on the same chain/prio of an unlocked classifier both run change() on the shared proto and both can fail: the winner's tcf_chain_tp_delete_empty() attempt gives up because the loser's handle is still in the idr, and the loser's error path drops only its own reference without a second reclamation attempt. The empty proto stays linked in the chain, holding the chain reference, a block reference and the classifier module reference until the chain or block is torn down.

Reclaim the proto on the error path of any failed request that holds a proto reference. The reclamation is emptiness-gated: tcf_chain_tp_delete_empty() unlinks the proto only when delete_empty() admits it is empty, so a live shared proto is never unlinked. A proto the request created is reclaimed unconditionally - it is the only owner, so marking it for deletion is safe even without a delete_empty callback. Classifiers without one (the check marks the proto unconditionally) are rtnl-serialized, so the raced window this guard closes cannot arise for them.

This is a follow-up to commit d4e359b3608a ("net/sched: cls_api: fix teardown of an adopted proto on insert-race loss"), which stopped the loser of the insert race from unlinking the winner's live proto but left the empty-proto residual in place.

Conditions to recreate:

  • CONFIG_NET_CLS_FLOWER=y; veth pair
  • tc qdisc add dev veth0 ingress
  • two concurrent `tc filter add dev veth0 ingress protocol ip pref 1

flower skip_sw ... action drop` (both fail in fl_hw_replace_filter after publishing their handle in the idr); repeat in a loop

  • an empty flower tp stays linked after both requests fail; visible

as a bare filter protocol ip pref 1 flower chain 0 header in tc filter show with no filter entries

  • CAP_NET_ADMIN (namespace-local via unshare -Urn suffices)

Text from CVE List

Affected versions 12

  • Linuxaffected: 8b64678e0af8f4d62a40149baedebe78503a5255 before 0fc74e7d97d232095ce64cb45d25f0919df7ad4aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 8b64678e0af8f4d62a40149baedebe78503a5255 before 315e4fe65cf02ef052de5e6298c3088e448b7517CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 8b64678e0af8f4d62a40149baedebe78503a5255 before ebc9611ab154c0cd9f1320e2a73f5e936d7535a9CVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 8b64678e0af8f4d62a40149baedebe78503a5255 before 570141625d212fbbcffb9665cb45c0f04610e61aCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 8b64678e0af8f4d62a40149baedebe78503a5255 before 0bb8eab29b55045281a4963d4557f2776cdf8cfaCVE List
  • Linuxaffected: 5.1CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: all versions before 5.1CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.6.160 through 6.6.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.12.113 through 6.12.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 6.18.56 through 6.18.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.2.10 through 7.2.*CVE List
  • Linuxunaffected: 7.3CVE List

References 5