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

um: vector: fix use-after-free in vector_mmsg_rx()

When vector_mmsg_rx() discards a packet whose overlay header fails
verify_header(), it frees the skb and continues the loop:

if (header_check < 0) {
dev_kfree_skb_irq(skb);
vp->estats.rx_encaps_errors++;
continue;
}

The normal and short-packet paths fall through to the bottom of the
loop body, which clears the consumed slot and advances the cursors:

(*skbuff_vector) = NULL;
mmsg_vector++;
skbuff_vector++;

The verify_header() < 0 path skips that via continue, so the freed skb
is left in skbuff_vector[] and the cursors do not advance. The next
iteration reads the same slot, gets the freed skb, and frees it again,
producing a refcount underflow / use-after-free in the RX path.

Discard the slot the same way the other paths do before continuing.

Only transports whose verify_header() can return negative are affected:
GRE and L2TPv3 do so on a cookie/session-id mismatch (raw/tap do not),
so any peer on such a transport can trigger it without authentication.
Published: 2026-08-15
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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Remediation

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History

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 12:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: um: vector: fix use-after-free in vector_mmsg_rx() When vector_mmsg_rx() discards a packet whose overlay header fails verify_header(), it frees the skb and continues the loop: if (header_check < 0) { dev_kfree_skb_irq(skb); vp->estats.rx_encaps_errors++; continue; } The normal and short-packet paths fall through to the bottom of the loop body, which clears the consumed slot and advances the cursors: (*skbuff_vector) = NULL; mmsg_vector++; skbuff_vector++; The verify_header() < 0 path skips that via continue, so the freed skb is left in skbuff_vector[] and the cursors do not advance. The next iteration reads the same slot, gets the freed skb, and frees it again, producing a refcount underflow / use-after-free in the RX path. Discard the slot the same way the other paths do before continuing. Only transports whose verify_header() can return negative are affected: GRE and L2TPv3 do so on a cookie/session-id mismatch (raw/tap do not), so any peer on such a transport can trigger it without authentication.
Title um: vector: fix use-after-free in vector_mmsg_rx()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-15T12:27:12.549Z

Reserved: 2026-08-15T05:44:03.903Z

Link: CVE-2026-74478

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T13:17:52.600

Modified: 2026-08-15T13:17:52.600

Link: CVE-2026-74478

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.