Use-after-free via premature TX_RING vmalloc teardown
Published Sep 4, 2026 · Updated Sep 4, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel allows attackers to access freed vmalloc-backed TX_RING memory during AF_PACKET teardown. tpacket_destruct_skb() drops the pending reference before writing the timestamp and TP_STATUS_AVAILABLE, while teardown can free a vmalloc mapping still referenced by an skb. Triggering the race requires an AF_PACKET TX_RING with vmalloc-backed blocks and in-flight skbs during ring replacement or socket close; published sources do not specify the resulting security impact or required privileges.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel allows attackers to access freed vmalloc-backed TX_RING memory during AF_PACKET teardown. tpacket_destruct_skb() drops the pending reference before writing the timestamp and TP_STATUS_AVAILABLE, while teardown can free a vmalloc mapping still referenced by an skb. Triggering the race requires an AF_PACKET TX_RING with vmalloc-backed blocks and in-flight skbs during ring replacement or socket close; published sources do not specify the resulting security impact or required privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-80841
- Published
- Sep 4, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 4, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 4, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=3.14
- Affected versionversion=b013840810c221f2b0cf641d01531526052dc1fb <0189dce07db2dc059ae0570e06758ec4233c6e11
- Affected versionversion=b013840810c221f2b0cf641d01531526052dc1fb <550d00aa58193fb649a09a9c9e338c685adad784
- Affected versionversion=b013840810c221f2b0cf641d01531526052dc1fb <992cc9f94ca924089a506ba9b327caa9af797529
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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