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EPSS 0.1%top 98%

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: phonet/pep: disable BH around forwarded sk_receive_skb() The networking receive… (CVE-2026-64177)

0
Medium
Published: 07/20/2026 (07/20/2026, 00:00:00 UTC)
Source: GCVE Database
Product: linux

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: phonet/pep: disable BH around forwarded sk_receive_skb() The networking receive path is usually run from softirq context, but protocols that take the socket lock may have packets stored in the backlog and processed later from process context. In that case release_sock() -> __release_sock() drops the slock with spin_unlock_bh() and then calls sk->sk_backlog_rcv() with bottom halves enabled. Typical sk_backlog_rcv handlers process the socket whose backlog is being drained, so the BH state at entry is irrelevant for the slocks they touch. pep_do_rcv() is different: when the inbound skb targets an existing PEP pipe, it forwards the skb to a different *child* socket via sk_receive_skb(). That helper takes the child slock with bh_lock_sock_nested(), which is just spin_lock_nested() and assumes BH is already off. The same child slock therefore ends up acquired with BH on (process path) and with BH off (softirq path): process context softirq context --------------- --------------- release_sock(listener) __netif_receive_skb() __release_sock() phonet_rcv() spin_unlock_bh() __sk_receive_skb(listener) [BH now ENABLED] [BH already disabled] sk_backlog_rcv: sk_backlog_rcv: pep_do_rcv() pep_do_rcv() sk_receive_skb(child) sk_receive_skb(child) bh_lock_sock_nested(child) bh_lock_sock_nested(child) => SOFTIRQ-ON-W => IN-SOFTIRQ-W Lockdep flags this as inconsistent lock state, and it can become a real self-deadlock if a softirq on the same CPU tries to receive to the same child socket while its slock is held in the BH-enabled path: WARNING: inconsistent lock state inconsistent {SOFTIRQ-ON-W} -> {IN-SOFTIRQ-W} usage. (slock-AF_PHONET/1){+.?.}-{3:3}, at: __sk_receive_skb+0x1cf/0x900 __sk_receive_skb net/core/sock.c:563 sk_receive_skb include/net/sock.h:2022 [inline] pep_do_rcv net/phonet/pep.c:675 sk_backlog_rcv include/net/sock.h:1190 __release_sock net/core/sock.c:3216 release_sock net/core/sock.c:3815 pep_sock_accept net/phonet/pep.c:879 Wrap the forwarded sk_receive_skb() in local_bh_disable() / local_bh_enable() so the child slock is always acquired with BH off. local_bh_disable() nests safely on the softirq path. Discovered via in-house syzkaller fuzzing; the same root cause also on the linux-6.1.y syzbot dashboard as extid 44f0626dd6284f02663c. Reproduced under KASAN + LOCKDEP + PROVE_LOCKING, reproducer: https://pastebin.com/A3t8xzCR

CVSS v3.1

Score 5.5medium

Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Affected software

Affected versions
<5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1<5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1<5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2<5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1<5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1

AI-Powered Analysis

Machine-generated threat intelligence

AILast updated: 08/22/2026, 14:23:35 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2026-64177 addresses a flaw in the Linux kernel's phonet/pep protocol where bottom halves (BH) were not properly disabled around forwarded sk_receive_skb() calls. Normally, networking receive paths run in softirq context with BH disabled, but certain process context paths enable BH, causing the child socket lock to be acquired inconsistently with BH on and off. This discrepancy can lead to race conditions or deadlocks affecting system availability. The vulnerability was fixed in Linux kernel updates distributed by Ubuntu and other vendors. The advisory also references a broad set of kernel subsystems updated for various security issues, but this CVE specifically concerns the phonet/pep networking code.

Potential Impact

The vulnerability does not affect confidentiality or integrity but impacts availability by potentially causing system instability or denial of service due to improper locking in the networking stack. There are no known exploits in the wild. The CVSS score is 5.5 (medium severity) reflecting local attack vector with low complexity and no user interaction required.

Mitigation Recommendations

A patch is available and should be applied promptly. Users should update their Linux kernel packages to the fixed versions as provided by their distribution vendor (e.g., Ubuntu security notices USN-8575-1 and USN-8576-1). After updating, a system reboot is required to activate the fixes. Note that due to ABI changes, third-party kernel modules may need recompilation and reinstallation. Follow vendor instructions carefully to ensure complete remediation.

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Technical Details

Gcve Source
db.gcve.eu
Osv Id
GHSA-g3fg-4885-2jhq
Osv Schema Version
1.4.0
Aliases
["CVE-2026-64177"]
Ecosystems
[]
Database Specific Severity
null
Cvss Version
null

Threat ID: 6a5d27a82a4a8d598912a24c

Added to database: 07/19/2026, 19:38:16 UTC

Last enriched: 08/22/2026, 14:23:35 UTC

Last updated: 09/03/2026, 10:52:10 UTC

Views: 49

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