CVE-2026-80849 — net/tcp-ao: fix use-after-free of current_key on reconnect to another peer
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/tcp-ao: fix use-after-free of current_key on reconnect to another peer tcp_inbound_ao_hash() is called before bh_lock_sock_nested() is taken, with only rcu_read_lock() held. On the fast path for established sockets, if the rnext_keyid sent by the peer differs from current_key->sndid, the key the peer asked for is looked up and stored in current_key. The lookup is inside the RCU read side, but current_key outlives it. When the socket is disconnected and connect() is called again for another peer, tcp_ao_connect_init() unlinks every key that does not match the new peer and frees it with call_rcu(). If current_key points at such a key, it is cleared to NULL. The fast path reads sk_state only once on entry, so a softirq that got into it while the socket was still established can update current_key after that loop has already run. The update is inside the RCU read side, so it comes before the call_rcu() callback, and once the callback frees the key, current_key is left pointing at freed memory. The next transmission picks that pointer up in tcp_get_current_key(). tcp_ao_transmit_skb() then reads the traffic key from the freed object, which is the use-after-free. Wait for one grace period before unlinking, and only if a key is going to be removed. By the time tcp_connect() runs the socket is already in TCP_SYN_SENT, and TCP_AO_ESTABLISHED does not contain TCPF_SYN_SENT, so a softirq entering after the wait cannot reach the fast path, and the ones already in it have finished. The existing NULL handling in the loop is then enough.
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 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+1
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.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
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).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- 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 | ≥ 0a3a809089eb1d4a0a2fd0c16b520d603988c859 and < 84a93b4e012587d0a4a84ffb23ec6da18e9d85f9≥ 0a3a809089eb1d4a0a2fd0c16b520d603988c859 and < 73fde8fe4469f4ed8f0afcc0b9d6413002a9e6b3≥ 0a3a809089eb1d4a0a2fd0c16b520d603988c859 and < e54ad693eddb40c595add013f545354c538e325b≥ 0a3a809089eb1d4a0a2fd0c16b520d603988c859 and < 2857dcbd03cf3354af0fba1b65c6a260fb43811a≥ 0a3a809089eb1d4a0a2fd0c16b520d603988c859 and < da4471557f279d0f56605158a625bb6e49ef7d41version 6.7 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 15, 2026 → Oct 26, 2026 · 11 reading(s) · max 0.17%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Source status changed · → Received
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× References added · Oct 19, 2026 – Oct 19, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
7 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2857dcbd03cf3354af0fba1b65c6a260fb43811a
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/84a93b4e012587d0a4a84ffb23ec6da18e9d85f9
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/da4471557f279d0f56605158a625bb6e49ef7d41
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e54ad693eddb40c595add013f545354c538e325b
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-p98r-rj2f-59m7
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80849
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/73fde8fe4469f4ed8f0afcc0b9d6413002a9e6b3
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Unknown CVE-2026-99092 riscv: patch: fix handling of bpf-jit execmem addresses 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99093 mm: don't schedule deferred kernel page table freeing while booting 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99095 drm/vc4: drain the hangcheck timer and works on V3D unbind 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99096 io_uring/register: don't exempt disabled rings from task restrictions 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99097 tee: shm: reject zero-sized allocations in tee_dyn_shm_alloc_helper() 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99098 dm-integrity: fix buffer overflow in inline mode with large tag size 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 CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- 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-2026-80849 is "net/tcp-ao: fix use-after-free of current_key on reconnect to another peer", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.17% 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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