System hang via XFRM lock inversion
Published Sep 4, 2026 · Updated Sep 4, 2026
Deadlock in Linux kernel XFRM NAT keepalive handling allows attackers to hang the system when keepalive work races with SA deletion. The nat_keepalive_work() table walk holds xfrm_state_lock while its callback takes each state's x->lock, reversing the deletion path's lock order. The fault requires NAT keepalive work and security-association deletion to overlap; the resulting AB-BA deadlock interrupts the affected system.
Summary
What happened
Deadlock in Linux kernel XFRM NAT keepalive handling allows attackers to hang the system when keepalive work races with SA deletion. The nat_keepalive_work() table walk holds xfrm_state_lock while its callback takes each state's x->lock, reversing the deletion path's lock order. The fault requires NAT keepalive work and security-association deletion to overlap; the resulting AB-BA deadlock interrupts the affected system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-80845
- Published
- Sep 4, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 4, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- 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=6.11
- Affected versionversion=f531d13bdfe3f4f084aaa8acae2cb0f02295f5ae <5c86c895d1cac81a71ead3005084c6265cf6a7a5
- Affected versionversion=f531d13bdfe3f4f084aaa8acae2cb0f02295f5ae <763fe700b7c58ad64fe5202c5638848244dd4127
- Affected versionversion=f531d13bdfe3f4f084aaa8acae2cb0f02295f5ae <89ef3a2e1e4682ab82b0455ce113f8c39fb9e50d
- Affected versionversion=f531d13bdfe3f4f084aaa8acae2cb0f02295f5ae <a9fa05b7a1246797748d15771052639e0d3cabf1
- Affected versionversion=f531d13bdfe3f4f084aaa8acae2cb0f02295f5ae <ea09210462316e5235a25eccb11ad0708d86615e
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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