CVE-2026-45918

ovpn: tcp - don't deref NULL sk_socket member after tcp_close()

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: May 27, 2026 at 12:17 PM UTC
Updated: June 27, 2026 at 11:41 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: tcp - don't deref NULL sk_socket member after tcp_close() When deleting a peer in case of keepalive expiration, the peer is removed from the OpenVPN hashtable and is temporary inserted in a "release list" for further processing. This happens in: ovpn_peer_keepalive_work() unlock_ovpn(release_list) This processing includes detaching from the socket being used to talk to this peer, by restoring its original proto and socket ops/callbacks. In case of TCP it may happen that, while the peer is sitting in the release list, userspace decides to close the socket. This will result in a concurrent execution of: tcp_close(sk) __tcp_close(sk) sock_orphan(sk) sk_set_socket(sk, NULL) The last function call will set sk->sk_socket to NULL. When the releasing routine is resumed, ovpn_tcp_socket_detach() will attempt to dereference sk->sk_socket to restore its original ops member. This operation will crash due to sk->sk_socket being NULL. Fix this race condition by testing-and-accessing sk->sk_socket atomically under sk->sk_callback_lock.

Affected

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

6.16 ≤ v < 6.18.146.16 ≤ v < 6.19.46.16 ≤ v < 7.06.19 ≤ v < 6.19.411851cbd60ea1e5abbd97619d69845ead99303d66.16
Vendor states this is fixed in 94560267d6c41b1ff3fafbab726e3f8a55a6af34 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b9142cf4e066c825ec68752a7dcaceda700bbe26 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in f998b2c4bec487063a586695159f9a1856e81c56 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.16 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.14 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.19.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.0 (unaffected)

CVSS

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

Quick Info

StatusUNDERGOING ANALYSIS
CWE
CWE-476

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