CVE-2020-36789

can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: April 17, 2025 at 06:01 PM UTC
Updated: June 17, 2026 at 03:16 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/core/skbuff.c#skb_release_head_state() might be triggered, under network congestion circumstances, together with the potential risk of a NULL pointer dereference. The root cause of this issue is the call to kfree_skb() instead of dev_kfree_skb_irq() in net/core/dev.c#enqueue_to_backlog(). This patch prevents the skb to be freed within the call to netif_rx() by incrementing its reference count with skb_get(). The skb is finally freed by one of the in-irq-context safe functions: dev_consume_skb_any() or dev_kfree_skb_any(). The "any" version is used because some drivers might call can_get_echo_skb() in a normal context. The reason for this issue to occur is that initially, in the core network stack, loopback skb were not supposed to be received in hardware IRQ context. The CAN stack is an exeption. This bug was previously reported back in 2017 in [1] but the proposed patch never got accepted. While [1] directly modifies net/core/dev.c, we try to propose here a smoother modification local to CAN network stack (the assumption behind is that only CAN devices are affected by this issue). [1] http://lore.kernel.org/r/[email protected]

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

2.6.31 ≤ v < 4.14.2072.6.31 ≤ v < 4.19.1582.6.31 ≤ v < 4.4.2442.6.31 ≤ v < 4.9.2442.6.31 ≤ v < 5.102.6.31 ≤ v < 5.4.782.6.31 ≤ v < 5.9.94.10 ≤ v < 4.14.2074.15 ≤ v < 4.19.1584.20 ≤ v < 5.4.784.5 ≤ v < 4.9.2445.5 ≤ v < 5.9.939549eef3587f1c1e8c65c88a2400d10fd30ea175.10 rc15.10 rc2
Vendor states this is fixed in 2283f79b22684d2812e5c76fc2280aae00390365 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 248b71ce92d4f3a574b2537f9838f48e892618f4 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 3a922a85701939624484e7f2fd07d32beed00d25 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 451187b20431924d13fcfecc500d7cd2d9951bac (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7e4cf2ec0ca236c3e5f904239cec6efe1f3baf22 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in ab46748bf98864f9c3f5559060bf8caf9df2b41e (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 2.6.31 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.14.207 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.19.158 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.4.244 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 4.9.244 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.4.78 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.9.9 (unaffected)

References (7)

Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2283f79b22684d2812e5c76fc2280aae00390365
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/248b71ce92d4f3a574b2537f9838f48e892618f4
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3a922a85701939624484e7f2fd07d32beed00d25
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/451187b20431924d13fcfecc500d7cd2d9951bac
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7e4cf2ec0ca236c3e5f904239cec6efe1f3baf22
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574
Patch
Source: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ab46748bf98864f9c3f5559060bf8caf9df2b41e

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

5.5MEDIUMCISA-ADP
Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-476

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