UBUNTU-CVE-2026-80753: High severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: run deferred work on a module-owned workqueue ovpn queues several work items whose callbacks execute module text. These works currently run on the global system workqueues, so module exit has no driver-owned drain point that guarantees the callbacks have fully returned before the module text can be freed. Object references protect the objects used by the callbacks, but they do not prove that a workqueue function has returned. In particular, a worker can drop the final reference that unblocks device teardown while it is still executing ovpn code. Add a module-owned workqueue and queue all ovpn work items on it. During module exit, unregister rtnl and netlink first, flush the workqueue so ordinary ovpn workers finish, run the final RCU barrier, and destroy the workqueue last. This keeps the workqueue available for cleanup work queued from RCU callbacks, while ensuring no ovpn work item can outlive the module text. The per-device delayed keepalive work remains explicitly disabled during netdev teardown (disabledelayedworksync in ndouninit), since flushworkqueue does not flush delayed work that is still only pending on its timer.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1 - Configuration
Create a module-owned workqueue and queue all ovpn work items on it instead of the global system workqueues.
ovpn workqueue ownership = module-owned workqueue - Configuration
Keep delayed keepalive work explicitly disabled during netdev teardown by calling disable_delayed_work_sync in ndo_uninit, because flushing the workqueue does not flush delayed work still pending on its timer.
ovpn per-device delayed keepalive work delayed work during netdev teardown = disabled synchronously - Operational
During module exit, unregister rtnl and netlink first, flush the module-owned workqueue so ordinary ovpn workers finish, run the final RCU barrier, and destroy the workqueue last.
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What level of access does an attacker need?
The vector is local with low attack complexity, requires no privileges, and does not require user interaction. The provided data does not specify the exact local action needed to trigger the vulnerable workqueue teardown path.
Which Ubuntu kernel package families are listed as affected?
The listed packages are ubuntu/linux-riscv, ubuntu/linux-realtime, ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge, ubuntu/linux-azure, ubuntu/linux-gcp, ubuntu/linux-azure-fde, ubuntu/linux-gke, and ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0.