CVE-2026-72242: selinux: avoid sk_socket dereference in selinux_sctp_bind_connect()

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

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

selinux: avoid sksocket dereference in selinuxsctpbindconnect()

selinuxsctpbindconnect() dereferences sk->sksocket to pass a struct socket to selinuxsocketbind() and selinuxsocketconnecthelper(). However, when the hook is invoked from the ASCONF softirq path (sctpprocessasconf), there is no file reference guaranteeing that sk->sksocket is non-NULL. The setsockopt callers (bindx, connectx, setprimary, sendmsg connect) hold a file reference and are not affected.

Both selinuxsocketbind() and selinuxsocketconnecthelper() immediately resolve sock->sk, never using the struct socket for anything else. Refactor the inner logic into helpers that take a struct sock directly so that selinuxsctpbindconnect() never needs to touch sk->sksocket at all.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Linux Linux kernel

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:54 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:54 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:21 AM
DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72242?

CVE-2026-72242 has a risk rating of 22, indicating it poses a significant security threat.

2

What is the impact of CVE-2026-72242?

CVE-2026-72242 can potentially lead to a kernel dereference that may compromise system integrity.

3

How do I fix CVE-2026-72242?

To fix CVE-2026-72242, you should update your Linux kernel to the latest version where the vulnerability has been patched.

4

Who is affected by CVE-2026-72242?

CVE-2026-72242 affects systems running vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel that use SELinux.

5

When was CVE-2026-72242 published?

CVE-2026-72242 was published on August 15, 2026.

Contact

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