MPTCP connection hang via fallback reinjection deadlock
Published Jan 14, 2026 · Updated Jan 14, 2026
Improper locking in Linux Kernel MPTCP allows attackers to hang affected connections through fallback-time packet reinjection. After MP_FAIL arrives but before the infinite map is sent, the packet scheduler reinjects data while fallback_lock is already held, and __mptcp_try_fallback attempts to acquire that lock again. The trigger requires an MPTCP fallback in this narrow interval; published assessments disagree on whether access is remote or local and on required privileges.
Summary
What happened
Improper locking in Linux Kernel MPTCP allows attackers to hang affected connections through fallback-time packet reinjection. After MP_FAIL arrives but before the infinite map is sent, the packet scheduler reinjects data while fallback_lock is already held, and __mptcp_try_fallback attempts to acquire that lock again. The trigger requires an MPTCP fallback in this narrow interval; published assessments disagree on whether access is remote or local and on required privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-71126
- Published
- Jan 14, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 14, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-667, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 14, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=1d82a8fe6ee4afdc92f4e8808c9dad2a6095bbc5
- Affected versionversion=54999dea879fecb761225e28f274b40662918c30 <0ca9fb4335e726dab4f23b3bfe87271d8f005f41
- Affected versionversion=5586518bec27666c747cd52aabb62d485686d0bf <0107442e82c0f8d6010e07e6030741c59c520d6e
- Affected versionversion=6.16
- Affected versionversion=75a4c9ab8a7af0d76b31ccd1188ed178c38b35d2 <252892d5a6a2f163ce18f32716e46fa4da7d4e79
- Affected versionversion=f8a1d9b18c5efc76784f5a326e905f641f839894 <50f47c02be419bf0a3ae94c118addf67beef359f
- Affected versionversion=f8a1d9b18c5efc76784f5a326e905f641f839894 <ffb8c27b0539dd90262d1021488e7817fae57c42
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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