CVE-2026-43455

mctp: route: hold key->lock in mctp_flow_prepare_output()

Published May 8, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

mctp: route: hold key->lock in mctp_flow_prepare_output()

mctp_flow_prepare_output() checks key->dev and may call
mctp_dev_set_key(), but it does not hold key->lock while doing so.

mctp_dev_set_key() and mctp_dev_release_key() are annotated with
__must_hold(&key->lock), so key->dev access is intended to be
serialized by key->lock. The mctp_sendmsg() transmit path reaches
mctp_flow_prepare_output() via mctp_local_output() -> mctp_dst_output()
without holding key->lock, so the check-and-set sequence is racy.

Example interleaving:

CPU0 CPU1
---- ----
mctp_flow_prepare_output(key, devA)
if (!key->dev) // sees NULL
mctp_flow_prepare_output(
key, devB)
if (!key->dev) // still NULL
mctp_dev_set_key(devB, key)
mctp_dev_hold(devB)
key->dev = devB
mctp_dev_set_key(devA, key)
mctp_dev_hold(devA)
key->dev = devA // overwrites devB

Now both devA and devB references were acquired, but only the final
key->dev value is tracked for release. One reference can be lost,
causing a resource leak as mctp_dev_release_key() would only decrease
the reference on one dev.

Fix by taking key->lock around the key->dev check and
mctp_dev_set_key() call.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8567-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8574-1 Linux kernel (GCP FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8574-2 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8595-1 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8596-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8595-2 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8606-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8607-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8608-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8609-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8574-3 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8595-3 Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8619-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8665-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses NVD-CWE-noinfo
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics 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'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-404
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-404
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mctp: route: hold key->lock in mctp_flow_prepare_output() mctp_flow_prepare_output() checks key->dev and may call mctp_dev_set_key(), but it does not hold key->lock while doing so. mctp_dev_set_key() and mctp_dev_release_key() are annotated with __must_hold(&key->lock), so key->dev access is intended to be serialized by key->lock. The mctp_sendmsg() transmit path reaches mctp_flow_prepare_output() via mctp_local_output() -> mctp_dst_output() without holding key->lock, so the check-and-set sequence is racy. Example interleaving: CPU0 CPU1 ---- ---- mctp_flow_prepare_output(key, devA) if (!key->dev) // sees NULL mctp_flow_prepare_output( key, devB) if (!key->dev) // still NULL mctp_dev_set_key(devB, key) mctp_dev_hold(devB) key->dev = devB mctp_dev_set_key(devA, key) mctp_dev_hold(devA) key->dev = devA // overwrites devB Now both devA and devB references were acquired, but only the final key->dev value is tracked for release. One reference can be lost, causing a resource leak as mctp_dev_release_key() would only decrease the reference on one dev. Fix by taking key->lock around the key->dev check and mctp_dev_set_key() call.
Title mctp: route: hold key->lock in mctp_flow_prepare_output()
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
May 11, 2026, 10:24 PM
Reserved
May 1, 2026, 2:12 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
May 8, 2026, 3:16 PM
Modified
Nov 11, 2026, 8:10 PM
Severity
Public date
May 8, 2026, 12:00 AM