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CVE-2026-98230NVD

Vulnerability Summary

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

xfrm: use hlist_del_init_rcu for state_cache and state_cache_input

Commit 14acf9652e56 ("xfrm: defensively unhash xfrm_state lists in
__xfrm_state_delete") converted bydst/bysrc/byseq/byspi from
hlist_del_rcu() to hlist_del_init_rcu() so that a second
__xfrm_state_delete() on the same object becomes a no-op rather than a
write through LIST_POISON pprev. It missed state_cache and
state_cache_input, which kept hlist_del_rcu():

- hlist_del_rcu() leaves pprev = LIST_POISON2 (non-NULL), so
hlist_unhashed() returns false.
- hlist_del_init_rcu() leaves pprev = NULL, so hlist_unhashed()
returns true.

A second __xfrm_state_delete() therefore enters __hlist_del() on the
already-deleted state_cache/state_cache_input nodes and does
WRITE_ONCE(*pprev, next) through LIST_POISON2 — a write use-after-free
once the slab is reused. The corruption can in turn cause a subsequent
hlist_for_each_entry_rcu traversal to follow a dangling next pointer,
producing the read use-after-free reported in xfrm_input_state_lookup().

Switch state_cache and state_cache_input to hlist_del_init_rcu() to
match the other four lists, closing the write use-after-free and, with
it, the read use-after-free it spawns.
Severity Level
HIGH(7.0)
Published Date
Oct 6, 2026
Last Modified
Oct 7, 2026
Exploitation Status
No confirmed exploitation yet
EPSS Score (30-Day)
0.21%Probability
Root Weakness (CWE)
N/A
CVSS v3.1 Base Metrics — Score 7.0 (HIGH)
Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityHigh
Privileges RequiredLow
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged
ConfidentialityHigh
IntegrityHigh
AvailabilityHigh

Affected & Patched Versions

Affected Versions
Not provided by NVD for this CVE.
Patched Versions
Not provided by NVD for this CVE.
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📈EPSS Spike Alerts — Catch rising risk before it peaks.
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🐙GitHub Issues — Auto-tracked, no duplicates.
📬Weekly Digest — One clean summary, not inbox spam.
🏷️Watchlist Groups — Tag alerts by team (Infra/AppSec/SOC).
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