CVE-2026-43216

net: Drop the lock in skb_may_tx_timestamp()

Published May 6, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: Drop the lock in skb_may_tx_timestamp()

skb_may_tx_timestamp() may acquire sock::sk_callback_lock. The lock must
not be taken in IRQ context, only softirq is okay. A few drivers receive
the timestamp via a dedicated interrupt and complete the TX timestamp
from that handler. This will lead to a deadlock if the lock is already
write-locked on the same CPU.

Taking the lock can be avoided. The socket (pointed by the skb) will
remain valid until the skb is released. The ->sk_socket and ->file
member will be set to NULL once the user closes the socket which may
happen before the timestamp arrives.
If we happen to observe the pointer while the socket is closing but
before the pointer is set to NULL then we may use it because both
pointer (and the file's cred member) are RCU freed.

Drop the lock. Use READ_ONCE() to obtain the individual pointer. Add a
matching WRITE_ONCE() where the pointer are cleared.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4717-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4720-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4723-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6381-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8876-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8875-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8877-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8878-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8879-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8875-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8917-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8918-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9029-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-413
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: Drop the lock in skb_may_tx_timestamp() skb_may_tx_timestamp() may acquire sock::sk_callback_lock. The lock must not be taken in IRQ context, only softirq is okay. A few drivers receive the timestamp via a dedicated interrupt and complete the TX timestamp from that handler. This will lead to a deadlock if the lock is already write-locked on the same CPU. Taking the lock can be avoided. The socket (pointed by the skb) will remain valid until the skb is released. The ->sk_socket and ->file member will be set to NULL once the user closes the socket which may happen before the timestamp arrives. If we happen to observe the pointer while the socket is closing but before the pointer is set to NULL then we may use it because both pointer (and the file's cred member) are RCU freed. Drop the lock. Use READ_ONCE() to obtain the individual pointer. Add a matching WRITE_ONCE() where the pointer are cleared.
Title net: Drop the lock in skb_may_tx_timestamp()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 10, 2026, 12:46 PM
Reserved
May 1, 2026, 2:12 PM
Status
Modified
Published
May 6, 2026, 12:16 PM
Modified
Nov 11, 2026, 8:10 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
May 6, 2026, 12:00 AM