CVE-2026-80841: Linux kernel · net/packet: defer vmalloc TX_RING free until skbs finish
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 4 Sep 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
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.
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel. Users should apply the updated kernel versions that include this patch. Since this is a kernel-level fix, upgrading to the patched kernel releases is the recommended mitigation. No additional workaround or temporary mitigation is indicated.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's AF_PACKET TX_RING implementation has been resolved. The issue involves improper handling of vmalloc-backed TX_RING buffers, where skbs keep raw pointers to ring frames without preserving vmalloc mappings, potentially leading to use-after-free conditions. The fix defers freeing vmalloc TX_RING buffers until all skbs finish, ensuring safe memory access and preventing race conditions during ring replacement and teardown.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80841 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0189dce07db2dc059ae0570e06758ec4233c6e11 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/550d00aa58193fb649a09a9c9e338c685adad784 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/992cc9f94ca924089a506ba9b327caa9af797529 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-80841 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-80841 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/992cc9f94ca924089a506ba9b327caa9af797529 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ce6e2d2e38055b2012bd5fdb0c8a8183c8a1b0c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/debf9f50140b3df3949ebcb97d4450f8993fe32d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed25ed29034ddc3dbe451ccbaa58ab9932f99d8b (opens in a new tab)