In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: fix ip_rt_bug race in...

Description

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

xfrm: fix ip_rt_bug race in icmp_route_lookup reverse path

icmp_route_lookup() performs multiple route lookups to find a suitable
route for sending ICMP error messages, with special handling for XFRM
(IPsec) policies.

The lookup sequence is:
1. First, lookup output route for ICMP reply (dst = original src)
2. Pass through xfrm_lookup() for policy check
3. If blocked (-EPERM) or dst is not local, enter "reverse path"
4. In reverse path, call xfrm_decode_session_reverse() to get fl4_dec
which reverses the original packet's flow (saddr<->daddr swapped)
5. If fl4_dec.saddr is local (we are the original destination), use
__ip_route_output_key() for output route lookup
6. If fl4_dec.saddr is NOT local (we are a forwarding node), use
ip_route_input() to simulate the reverse packet's input path
7. Finally, pass rt2 through xfrm_lookup() with XFRM_LOOKUP_ICMP flag

The bug occurs in step 6: ip_route_input() is called with fl4_dec.daddr
(original packet's source) as destination. If this address becomes local
between the initial check and ip_route_input() call (e.g., due to
concurrent "ip addr add"), ip_route_input() returns a LOCAL route with
dst.output set to ip_rt_bug.

This route is then used for ICMP output, causing dst_output() to call
ip_rt_bug(), triggering a WARN_ON:

------------[ cut here ]------------
WARNING: net/ipv4/route.c:1275 at ip_rt_bug+0x21/0x30, CPU#1
Call Trace:
<TASK>
ip_push_pending_frames+0x202/0x240
icmp_push_reply+0x30d/0x430
__icmp_send+0x1149/0x24f0
ip_options_compile+0xa2/0xd0
ip_rcv_finish_core+0x829/0x1950
ip_rcv+0x2d7/0x420
__netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x185/0x1f0
netif_receive_skb+0x90/0x450
tun_get_user+0x3413/0x3fb0
tun_chr_write_iter+0xe4/0x220
...

Fix this by checking rt2->rt_type after ip_route_input(). If it's
RTN_LOCAL, the route cannot be used for output, so treat it as an error.

The reproducer requires kernel modification to widen the race window,
making it unsuitable as a selftest. It is available at:

https://gist.github.com/mrpre/eae853b72ac6a750f5d45d64ddac1e81

Basic information

Type
unreviewed
Severity
medium
Advisory on GitHub
Open advisory ↗
Repository advisory
Source code
Not specified
Published (advisory)
2026-05-27 15:33:15 UTC
Updated
2026-06-24 18:32:27 UTC
NVD published
2026-05-27

EPSS Score

Score Percentile
0.11% 1.58%

CVSS Scores

Base score Version Severity Vector
4.7 3.1
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:L)
They already need access on the box, or another person has to do something wrong; it’s not a remote drive-by.
Attack complexity (AC:H)
Even with access, the exploit needs extra luck, timing, or a fussy environment to actually work.
Privileges required (PR:L)
A normal user session is enough; they don’t have to be admin.
User interaction (UI:N)
Nobody has to click “OK” or open a trap file; it can work without a victim helping.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:N)
Doesn’t really leak secrets in a meaningful way.
Integrity (I:N)
Data isn’t meaningfully altered or forged.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.

Identifiers

CWEs

CWE id Name
CWE-362 Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')

References

cvelogic Threat Intelligence