CVE-2026-72317: SUNRPC: pin upper rpc_clnt across the TLS connect_worker
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
SUNRPC: pin upper rpcclnt across the TLS connectworker
The TLS connect path has a use-after-free: nothing pins the upper rpcclnt across the delayed connectworker. xsconnect() stores task->tkclient in sockxprt::clnt as a raw pointer and queues the worker; for TLS-secured transports that worker is xstcptlssetupsocket(), which reads several fields out of the saved pointer (cltimeout, clprogram, clprog, clvers, clcred, clstats) to construct the args for the inner handshake rpcclnt.
The xprt does not reference the rpcclnt; the rpcclnt references the xprt. xsdestroy() does cancel the connectworker, but it runs only when the xprt's refcount drops to zero, which cannot happen until the rpcclnt releases its clxprt reference in rpcfreeclientwork(). When a TLS handshake fails fatally (for example, an mTLS mount whose client cert does not match the server), the connecting task is woken with -EACCES and exits, the mount caller invokes rpcshutdownclient(), and the upper rpcclnt is freed before the queued connectworker fires. xstcptlssetupsocket() then dereferences the freed clnt, producing the refcountt underflow Michael Nemanov reported.
Take a reference on the upper rpcclnt in xsconnect() for TLS transports via a new rpcholdclient() helper, and drop it in the connectworker's exit path with rpcreleaseclient(). The xprtlockconnect() / xprtunlockconnect() pairing already serialises xsconnect() with xstcptlssetupsocket(), so the take and release are balanced one-for-one.
The non-TLS connect worker (xstcpsetupsocket) never reads sockxprt::clnt, so leave that path alone and avoid the clnt-holds-xprt-holds-clnt cycle that would otherwise prevent xprt destruction.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1035.38 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1007.8 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1020.20 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-34.34.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-72317?
CVE-2026-72317 has a risk score of 34, indicating a moderate severity level.
How do I fix CVE-2026-72317?
To fix CVE-2026-72317, update to the patched version of the Linux kernel that addresses the use-after-free vulnerability.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-72317?
CVE-2026-72317 affects various Linux kernel versions that utilize the SUNRPC subsystem.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-72317?
CVE-2026-72317 is categorized as a use-after-free vulnerability, which can lead to memory corruption.
What is the impact of not addressing CVE-2026-72317?
Not addressing CVE-2026-72317 could lead to stability issues and potential remote code execution through the exploitation of the vulnerability.