CVE-2026-23300: net: ipv6: fix panic when IPv4 route references loopback IPv6 nexthop
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: ipv6: fix panic when IPv4 route references loopback IPv6 nexthop
When a standalone IPv6 nexthop object is created with a loopback device (e.g., "ip -6 nexthop add id 100 dev lo"), fib6nhinit() misclassifies it as a reject route. This is because nexthop objects have no destination prefix (fcdst=::), causing fib6isreject() to match any loopback nexthop. The reject path skips fibnhcommoninit(), leaving nhcpcpurthoutput unallocated. If an IPv4 route later references this nexthop, mkrouteoutput() dereferences NULL nhcpcpurthoutput and panics.
Simplify the check in fib6nhinit() to only match explicit reject routes (RTFREJECT) instead of using fib6isreject(). The loopback promotion heuristic in fib6isreject() is handled separately by ip6routeinfocreatenh(). After this change, the three cases behave as follows:
1. Explicit reject route ("ip -6 route add unreachable 2001:db8::/64"): RTFREJECT is set, enters reject path, skips fibnhcommoninit(). No behavior change.
2. Implicit loopback reject route ("ip -6 route add 2001:db8::/32 dev lo"): RTFREJECT is not set, takes normal path, fibnhcommoninit() is called. ip6routeinfocreatenh() still promotes it to reject afterward. nhcpcpurthoutput is allocated but unused, which is harmless.
3. Standalone nexthop object ("ip -6 nexthop add id 100 dev lo"): RTFREJECT is not set, takes normal path, fibnhcommoninit() is called. nhcpcpurthoutput is properly allocated, fixing the crash when IPv4 routes reference this nexthop.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.113-1Fixed in 7.2.12-1Fixed in 7.2.13-1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-23300?
CVE-2026-23300 has a severity classification that indicates a potential for system panic due to improper handling of IPv4 routes referencing loopback IPv6 nexthops.
How do I fix CVE-2026-23300?
To fix CVE-2026-23300, upgrading the Linux kernel to the latest stable version that includes the patch is recommended.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-23300?
CVE-2026-23300 affects the Linux kernel, specifically configurations that utilize both IPv4 routes and loopback IPv6 nexthops.
What are the consequences of not addressing CVE-2026-23300?
Failing to address CVE-2026-23300 can lead to system instability and unexpected panics when handling network routes.
Is there a workaround for CVE-2026-23300?
Currently, there are no documented workarounds for CVE-2026-23300; the best course of action is to apply the kernel update.