CVE-2026-46099 — net: ipv6: fix NOREF dst use in seg6 and rpl lwtunnels
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ipv6: fix NOREF dst use in seg6 and rpl lwtunnels seg6_input_core() and rpl_input() call ip6_route_input() which sets a NOREF dst on the skb, then pass it to dst_cache_set_ip6() invoking dst_hold() unconditionally. On PREEMPT_RT, ksoftirqd is preemptible and a higher-priority task can release the underlying pcpu_rt between the lookup and the caching through a concurrent FIB lookup on a shared nexthop. Simplified race sequence: ksoftirqd/X higher-prio task (same CPU X) ----------- -------------------------------- seg6_input_core(,skb)/rpl_input(skb) dst_cache_get() -> miss ip6_route_input(skb) -> ip6_pol_route(,skb,flags) [RT6_LOOKUP_F_DST_NOREF in flags] -> FIB lookup resolves fib6_nh [nhid=N route] -> rt6_make_pcpu_route() [creates pcpu_rt, refcount=1] pcpu_rt->sernum = fib6_sernum [fib6_sernum=W] -> cmpxchg(fib6_nh.rt6i_pcpu, NULL, pcpu_rt) [slot was empty, store succeeds] -> skb_dst_set_noref(skb, dst) [dst is pcpu_rt, refcount still 1] rt_genid_bump_ipv6() -> bumps fib6_sernum [fib6_sernum from W to Z] ip6_route_output() -> ip6_pol_route() -> FIB lookup resolves fib6_nh [nhid=N] -> rt6_get_pcpu_route() pcpu_rt->sernum != fib6_sernum [W <> Z, stale] -> prev = xchg(rt6i_pcpu, NULL) -> dst_release(prev) [prev is pcpu_rt, refcount 1->0, dead] dst = skb_dst(skb) [dst is the dead pcpu_rt] dst_cache_set_ip6(dst) -> dst_hold() on dead dst -> WARN / use-after-free For the race to occur, ksoftirqd must be preemptible (PREEMPT_RT without PREEMPT_RT_NEEDS_BH_LOCK) and a concurrent task must be able to release the pcpu_rt. Shared nexthop objects provide such a path, as two routes pointing to the same nhid share the same fib6_nh and its rt6i_pcpu entry. Fix seg6_input_core() and rpl_input() by calling skb_dst_force() after ip6_route_input() to force the NOREF dst into a refcounted one before caching. The output path is not affected as ip6_route_output() already returns a refcounted dst.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.4% (30-day exploitation probability)+5
- Technical severity (high)+6
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux, Linux Linux Kernel).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < 51fef5a7c4d160839199e941929456ba21ddf73c≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < b258b849a580285a1692e782ebc902b44c884a71≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < 6bd17925bd6866027a6555db17905b9fc073d38d≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < 52f9db67f8f35f436366cf4980b4f0a2583d0ef0≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < b778b6d095421619c331fd2d7751143cd5387103≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < 9dd5481f960e337b81d7dfe429529495c1c481c0≥ af4a2209b1344939eaac11f269c261d347cbc3ee and < f9c52a6ba9780bd27e0bf4c044fd91c13c778b6eversion 4.12 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | ≥ 4.12 and < 5.15.209≥ 5.16 and < 6.1.175≥ 6.2 and < 6.6.140≥ 6.7 and < 6.12.86≥ 6.13 and < 6.18.27≥ 6.19 and < 7.0.4version 7.1-rc1 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 2.2 | 5.9 | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 8.1 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| 7.3 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 1.8 | 5.5 | 0b0ca135-0b70-47e7-9f44-1890c2a1c46c via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 15, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 0.41%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 8.1
- Source status changed · → Modified
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 14, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
19 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9dd5481f960e337b81d7dfe429529495c1c481c0
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/52f9db67f8f35f436366cf4980b4f0a2583d0ef0
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6bd17925bd6866027a6555db17905b9fc073d38d
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/51fef5a7c4d160839199e941929456ba21ddf73c
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b778b6d095421619c331fd2d7751143cd5387103
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b258b849a580285a1692e782ebc902b44c884a71
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f9c52a6ba9780bd27e0bf4c044fd91c13c778b6e
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:45114
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-784472.html
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59663
- security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-46099.json
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65712
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:64767
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:62568
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-46099
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:59662
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-9x88-7c3c-r34g
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46099
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 21h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 21h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 1d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-46099 is "net: ipv6: fix NOREF dst use in seg6 and rpl lwtunnels", rated High. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 8.1 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.41% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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