CVE-2026-68338: Linux kernel · net/packet: avoid fanout hook re-registration after unregister
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 3% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +56
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 10 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/packet: avoid fanout hook re-registration after unregister packet_set_ring() temporarily detaches a socket from packet delivery while reconfiguring its ring. It records the previous running state, clears po->num, unregisters the protocol hook when needed, drops po->bind_lock, and later restores po->num and re-registers the hook from the saved was_running value. That unlocked window can race with NETDEV_UNREGISTER. The notifier can observe the socket as not running, skip __unregister_prot_hook(), and invalidate the per-socket binding by setting po->ifindex to -1 and clearing po->prot_hook.dev. A one-member fanout group can still retain its shared fanout hook device pointer. When packet_set_ring() resumes, re-registering solely from the stale was_running state can re-add the fanout hook after the device has been unregistered. Treat po->ifindex == -1 as an invalidated binding after reacquiring po->bind_lock. This is distinct from ifindex 0, the normal unbound/wildcard state: ifindex -1 marks an existing device binding that was invalidated when the device was unregistered. Restore po->num as before, but do not re-register the hook if device unregister already detached the socket.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-68338 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-68338 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a052e0808e015e68144a9877e6ef42b952c49fa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a885387dae7986a55bae5c77a15bdd447f64e9b9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bc55c29cd85818e9052f17deb287d5a11fb817f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/50aff80475abd3533eef4320477037e6fcc6b56e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/80ec024d53a05c60ad1d08968dcf745f10c1665c (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8889-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8886-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8888-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8887-3 (opens in a new tab)