Linux hwe edge: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap() xfrm6_rcv_encap()… (CVE-2026-46172)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap() xfrm6_rcv_encap() performs an IPv6 route lookup when the skb does not already have a dst attached. ip6_route_input_lookup() returns a referenced dst entry even when the lookup resolves to an error route. If dst->error is set, xfrm6_rcv_encap() drops the skb without attaching the dst to the skb and without releasing the reference returned by the lookup. Repeated packets hitting this path therefore leak dst entries. Release the dst before jumping to the drop path.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
The Linux kernel's xfrm6_rcv_encap() function performs an IPv6 route lookup when the socket buffer (skb) lacks an attached destination (dst). The ip6_route_input_lookup() function returns a referenced dst entry even if the route lookup results in an error. If the dst->error flag is set, xfrm6_rcv_encap() drops the skb without attaching the dst and crucially without releasing the reference to the dst, causing a memory/resource leak. Repeated packets triggering this error path can exhaust kernel resources. The vulnerability has been fixed by ensuring the dst reference is released before dropping the packet.
Potential Impact
This vulnerability causes a resource leak in the kernel's IPv6 processing path, potentially leading to denial of service (DoS) conditions due to exhaustion of routing entries or memory. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity. No known exploits are reported in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in updated Linux kernel versions that properly release the dst reference on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap(). Users should upgrade to the fixed kernel versions to remediate this issue. Patch status is confirmed by the presence of fixed versions in Ubuntu kernel releases. No additional mitigation is indicated.
Linux hwe edge: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap() xfrm6_rcv_encap()… (CVE-2026-46172)
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap() xfrm6_rcv_encap() performs an IPv6 route lookup when the skb does not already have a dst attached. ip6_route_input_lookup() returns a referenced dst entry even when the lookup resolves to an error route. If dst->error is set, xfrm6_rcv_encap() drops the skb without attaching the dst to the skb and without releasing the reference returned by the lookup. Repeated packets hitting this path therefore leak dst entries. Release the dst before jumping to the drop path.
CVSS v3.1
Score 5.5medium
Affected software
pkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~16.04.1?arch=source&distro=xenialpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~18.04.2?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~18.04.1?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~18.04.1?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~18.04.1?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~18.04.2?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~18.04.1?arch=source&distro=bionicpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.2?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+cvm1.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.3?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=esm-infra/focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~20.04.1?arch=source&distro=focalpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~22.04.1?arch=source&distro=jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~22.04.1?arch=source&distro=jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email 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protected]+fips1?arch=source&distro=fips-updates/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+fips1?arch=source&distro=fips-updates/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+fips1?arch=source&distro=fips-updates/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]+fips1?arch=source&distro=fips-updates/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=realtime/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=realtime/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~22.04.2?arch=source&distro=realtime/jammypkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email 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protected]~24.04.1?arch=source&distro=realtime/noblepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=questingpkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resolutepkg:deb/ubuntu/[email protected]?arch=source&distro=resoluteRun on your own infrastructure? 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AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
The Linux kernel's xfrm6_rcv_encap() function performs an IPv6 route lookup when the socket buffer (skb) lacks an attached destination (dst). The ip6_route_input_lookup() function returns a referenced dst entry even if the route lookup results in an error. If the dst->error flag is set, xfrm6_rcv_encap() drops the skb without attaching the dst and crucially without releasing the reference to the dst, causing a memory/resource leak. Repeated packets triggering this error path can exhaust kernel resources. The vulnerability has been fixed by ensuring the dst reference is released before dropping the packet.
Potential Impact
This vulnerability causes a resource leak in the kernel's IPv6 processing path, potentially leading to denial of service (DoS) conditions due to exhaustion of routing entries or memory. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity. No known exploits are reported in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in updated Linux kernel versions that properly release the dst reference on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap(). Users should upgrade to the fixed kernel versions to remediate this issue. Patch status is confirmed by the presence of fixed versions in Ubuntu kernel releases. No additional mitigation is indicated.
Technical Details
- Gcve Source
- db.gcve.eu
- Osv Id
- UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46172
- Osv Schema Version
- 1.7.0
- Aliases
- []
- Ecosystems
- ["Ubuntu:16.04:LTS","Ubuntu:18.04:LTS","Ubuntu:20.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS","Ubuntu:22.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Nvidia-BlueField:22.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:FIPS-preview:22.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:FIPS-updates:22.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:Realtime:22.04:LTS","Ubuntu:24.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Nvidia-BlueField:24.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:FIPS-updates:24.04:LTS","Ubuntu:Pro:Realtime:24.04:LTS","Ubuntu:25.10","Ubuntu:26.04:LTS"]
- Database Specific Severity
- null
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
Threat ID: 6a5a01e291ae9bcd3f82e819
Added to database: 07/17/2026, 10:20:18 UTC
Last enriched: 07/20/2026, 22:43:01 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:30:21 UTC
Views: 2
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