CVE-2026-97472 ipv6: addrconf: fix temp address generation after prefix deprecation
A logic error in Linux IPv6 address configuration prevents temporary privacy address regeneration after prefix deprecation, causing a loss of privacy features.
- 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-2026-97472?
CVE-2026-97472 is a denial of service vulnerability in Linux, published on 24 Sep 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:
ipv6: addrconf: fix temp address generation after prefix deprecation
When a router temporarily deprecates an IPv6 prefix (either by sending a Router Advertisement with Preferred Lifetime = 0 or by letting the lifetime expire) and later restores it, the kernel permanently loses its ability to generate temporary privacy addresses (RFC 8981) for that prefix.
This happens because the address worker attempts to generate a replacement temporary address when the current one nears expiration. As the base prefix is deprecated already, the generation fails after marking the temporary address as already having spawned a replacement (ifp->regen_count++).
When the router eventually restores the prefix, the temporary address becomes active again. However, once it naturally expires, the address worker sees this temporary address already tried to generate one and skips the regeneration.
Fix the issue by resetting the regen_count check of the latest temp address generated for the prefix updated by the incoming RA.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97472?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97472?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2026-97472 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97472 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-103760, BELL-CVE-2026-97472, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97472, GHSA-qm2v-6h58-7fr4, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97472.