In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: openvswitch: fix use-after-free of the flow table mask array
tbl_mask_array_realloc() retires the old mask_array before it stops being
reachable:
old = ovsl_dereference(tbl->mask_array);
if (old) {
...
call_rcu(&old->rcu, mask_array_rcu_cb);
}
rcu_assign_pointer(tbl->mask_array, new);
call_rcu() only waits for read-side critical sections already in flight.
tbl->mask_array still points at old between the call_rcu() and the
rcu_assign_pointer(), so a reader entering ovs_flow_tbl_lookup_stats() in
that window picks up old in a fresh critical section that the pending
grace period does not cover.
tbl_mask_array_realloc() runs in process context under ovs_mutex, so the
window is preemptible and can outlast the grace period. Then
mask_array_rcu_cb() frees old before the swap runs:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in flow_lookup.constprop.0+0x2bf/0x2f0
Read of size 8 at addr ffff888020b3e018 by task poc/741
flow_lookup.constprop.0+0x2bf/0x2f0
ovs_flow_tbl_lookup_stats+0x4a3/0x5c0
ovs_dp_process_packet+0x19c/0x710
ovs_vport_receive+0x243/0x390
internal_dev_xmit+0x81/0x170
Freed by task 728:
kfree+0x16a/0x4e0
rcu_core+0x853/0x1030
Publish the new array before retiring the old one. The kfree_rcu() that
call_rcu() replaced ran after the swap.
net: openvswitch: fix use-after-free of the flow table mask array
tbl_mask_array_realloc() retires the old mask_array before it stops being
reachable:
old = ovsl_dereference(tbl->mask_array);
if (old) {
...
call_rcu(&old->rcu, mask_array_rcu_cb);
}
rcu_assign_pointer(tbl->mask_array, new);
call_rcu() only waits for read-side critical sections already in flight.
tbl->mask_array still points at old between the call_rcu() and the
rcu_assign_pointer(), so a reader entering ovs_flow_tbl_lookup_stats() in
that window picks up old in a fresh critical section that the pending
grace period does not cover.
tbl_mask_array_realloc() runs in process context under ovs_mutex, so the
window is preemptible and can outlast the grace period. Then
mask_array_rcu_cb() frees old before the swap runs:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in flow_lookup.constprop.0+0x2bf/0x2f0
Read of size 8 at addr ffff888020b3e018 by task poc/741
flow_lookup.constprop.0+0x2bf/0x2f0
ovs_flow_tbl_lookup_stats+0x4a3/0x5c0
ovs_dp_process_packet+0x19c/0x710
ovs_vport_receive+0x243/0x390
internal_dev_xmit+0x81/0x170
Freed by task 728:
kfree+0x16a/0x4e0
rcu_core+0x853/0x1030
Publish the new array before retiring the old one. The kfree_rcu() that
call_rcu() replaced ran after the swap.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Fri, 25 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: openvswitch: fix use-after-free of the flow table mask array tbl_mask_array_realloc() retires the old mask_array before it stops being reachable: old = ovsl_dereference(tbl->mask_array); if (old) { ... call_rcu(&old->rcu, mask_array_rcu_cb); } rcu_assign_pointer(tbl->mask_array, new); call_rcu() only waits for read-side critical sections already in flight. tbl->mask_array still points at old between the call_rcu() and the rcu_assign_pointer(), so a reader entering ovs_flow_tbl_lookup_stats() in that window picks up old in a fresh critical section that the pending grace period does not cover. tbl_mask_array_realloc() runs in process context under ovs_mutex, so the window is preemptible and can outlast the grace period. Then mask_array_rcu_cb() frees old before the swap runs: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in flow_lookup.constprop.0+0x2bf/0x2f0 Read of size 8 at addr ffff888020b3e018 by task poc/741 flow_lookup.constprop.0+0x2bf/0x2f0 ovs_flow_tbl_lookup_stats+0x4a3/0x5c0 ovs_dp_process_packet+0x19c/0x710 ovs_vport_receive+0x243/0x390 internal_dev_xmit+0x81/0x170 Freed by task 728: kfree+0x16a/0x4e0 rcu_core+0x853/0x1030 Publish the new array before retiring the old one. The kfree_rcu() that call_rcu() replaced ran after the swap. | |
| Title | net: openvswitch: fix use-after-free of the flow table mask array | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-09-25T10:22:20.827Z
Reserved: 2026-09-24T16:01:01.158Z
Link: CVE-2026-97611
No data.
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-25T11:17:15.213
Modified: 2026-09-25T11:17:15.213
Link: CVE-2026-97611
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.