CVE-2026-72072: net/mlx5e: macsec: fix use-after-free of metadata_dst on RX SC delete

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

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

net/mlx5e: macsec: fix use-after-free of metadatadst on RX SC delete

When an offloaded MACsec RX SC is deleted, macsecdelrxscctx() freed the per-SC metadatadst with metadatadstfree(), which kfree()s the object unconditionally and ignores the dst reference count. The RX datapath in mlx5emacsecoffloadhandlerxskb() looks up the SC under rcureadlock() via xaload(), takes a reference with dsthold() and attaches the dst to the skb with skbdstset(). A reader that already obtained the rxsc pointer can race with the delete path and operate on freed memory.

Fix the owner side by dropping the reference with dstrelease() instead of freeing unconditionally, and convert the RX datapath to dstholdsafe() so a reader racing the SC delete cannot attach a dst whose last reference was just dropped; only attach it when a reference was actually taken.

mlx5emacsecaddrxsc() also published scxarrayelement via xaalloc() before rxsc->mddst was allocated and initialised, so a datapath reader that looked the SC up by fsid could observe rxsc with mddst still NULL or, on weakly-ordered architectures, a non-NULL mddst pointer whose contents were not yet visible. NULL-check the xaload() result and mddst on the datapath, and reorder addrxsc() so the xaalloc() publish happens only after mddst is fully initialised; the xarray RCU publish then pairs with the rcureadlock()/xaload() in the datapath.

Note: macsecdelrxscctx() also kfree()s rxsc->scxarrayelement without an RCU grace period while the same datapath reads it under rcureadlock(); that is a separate pre-existing issue left to a follow-up patch.

Found by 0sec automated security-research tooling (https://0sec.ai).

Affected Software

1 affected component
Linux Kernel

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:52 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:52 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:21 AM
Description
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72072?

The severity of CVE-2026-72072 is rated as 44.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-72072?

To address CVE-2026-72072, ensure you update to the latest version of the Linux kernel where this vulnerability has been patched.

3

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-72072?

CVE-2026-72072 is classified as a Use After Free vulnerability.

4

What component of the Linux kernel is affected by CVE-2026-72072?

CVE-2026-72072 affects the net/mlx5e component of the Linux kernel.

5

What can happen if CVE-2026-72072 is exploited?

Exploitation of CVE-2026-72072 could lead to unpredictable behavior due to the use-after-free condition.

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