CVE-2026-74589 bpf, sockmap: Fix sk_redir use-after-free in send verdict
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's sockmap allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges via race conditions in send verdicts.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-74589?
CVE-2026-74589 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 22 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf, sockmap: Fix sk_redir use-after-free in send verdict
sk_psock_msg_verdict() takes a socket reference for psock->sk_redir. tcp_bpf_send_verdict() copies that pointer while holding the source socket lock, but does not take a reference for the local copy before dropping the lock around tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir().
When apply_bytes keeps the cached verdict active, another sendmsg() on the same source socket can consume the remaining bytes and release the cached reference while the first thread still holds only the raw local pointer:
CPU 0 CPU 1 sk_redir = psock->sk_redir apply_bytes remains nonzero release_sock(sk) lock_sock(sk) apply_bytes reaches zero psock->sk_redir = NULL release_sock(sk) tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir(sk_redir) sock_put(sk_redir) tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir(sk_redir)
The final sock_put() can free sk_redir before CPU 0 dereferences it.
KASAN reported:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir+0xf39/0x1020 Read of size 8 at addr ffff888108537090 by task poc/87 Call Trace: tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir+0xf39/0x1020 tcp_bpf_sendmsg+0x977/0x1a50 __sys_sendto+0x32c/0x3a0 __x64_sys_sendto+0xdb/0x1b0 Allocated by task 85: sk_prot_alloc+0x56/0x210 sk_clone+0x6f/0x14b0 inet_csk_clone_lock+0x24/0x740 tcp_create_openreq_child+0x25/0x2710 tcp_v4_syn_recv_sock+0x10a/0xe00 Freed by task 0: __kasan_slab_free+0x43/0x70 slab_free_after_rcu_debug+0xa6/0x1e0 rcu_core+0x50a/0x1850 Last potentially related work creation: __sk_destruct+0x3da/0x540 sk_psock_destroy+0x81e/0xab0 process_one_work+0x63a/0x1070
Take a temporary socket reference while the source socket lock still protects psock->sk_redir, and drop it after tcp_bpf_sendmsg_redir() returns. This keeps each unlocked use independent of cached-verdict ownership.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-74589?
How do I fix CVE-2026-74589?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-74589 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-74589 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-97212, BELL-CVE-2026-74589, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-74589, GHSA-h943-r25q-4c77, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74589.