GHSA-m23w-34pp-4h92: Use-after-free of `net_pkt` in IPv6 MLD send path triggerable by a link-local MLD Query

Published Jun 16, 2026
·
Updated

subsys/net/ip/ipv6mld.c:mldsend() read the packet interface via netpktiface(pkt) after netsenddata(pkt) returned successfully. Per the network stack's ownership contract (include/zephyr/net/netcore.h, and the explicit warning in subsys/net/ip/netcore.c:453-460 'do not use pkt after that call'), a successful send transfers ownership of the netpkt and the L2 driver frees it (e.g. ethernetsend() unrefs the packet on success, subsys/net/l2/ethernet/ethernet.c:790), returning it to its kmemslab.

The subsequent netpktiface(pkt) is therefore a read of a freed object; the recovered interface pointer is then dereferenced and incremented by the per-interface statistics path (netstats.h UPDATESTAT/SETSTAT) when CONFIGNETSTATISTICSPERINTERFACE is enabled. If the freed slot is concurrently reallocated, pkt->iface may read back as NULL (NULL-pointer dereference / crash) or as a stale/garbage pointer (stray increment write / memory corruption).

The path is reachable remotely on the local link without authentication: handlemldquery() (registered for NETICMPV6MLDQUERY) responds to a valid MLDv2 General Query (unspecified multicast address, hop limit 1) by calling sendmldreport() -> mldsend().

The result is a remotely triggerable denial of service of the networking stack, with a narrow possibility of memory corruption. The fix caches the interface in a local before sending and no longer touches the packet after netsenddata(). The IPv4/IGMP sibling (igmpsend) already used the corrected pattern.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Zephyr Zephyr

Event History

Jun 16, 2026
CVE Published
via OSV·01:13 PM
Data Sourced
via OSV·01:13 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203