CVE-2026-74740

net/sched: act_api: fix TOCTOU NULL deref on a->goto_chain

Published Aug 26, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/sched: act_api: fix TOCTOU NULL deref on a->goto_chain

tcf_action_exec() handles TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN by first checking
rcu_access_pointer(a->goto_chain) and then calling
tcf_action_goto_chain_exec(), which does a second, independent
rcu_dereference_bh(a->goto_chain) read and immediately dereferences
chain->filter_chain. A concurrent tcf_action_set_ctrlact() (e.g. the gact
replace path) can clear a->goto_chain between the two reads, so the second
read returns NULL and tcf_action_goto_chain_exec() dereferences NULL.

Fix the race by doing a single rcu_dereference_bh() read of a->goto_chain
in tcf_action_exec(), checking it once for NULL, and passing the resulting
chain pointer into tcf_action_goto_chain_exec(). This turns the split
check/use into a single check/use on one value.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4788-1 linux-6.12 security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel 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-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) 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
Weaknesses CWE-362
Type Values Removed Values Added
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-362
CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: act_api: fix TOCTOU NULL deref on a->goto_chain tcf_action_exec() handles TC_ACT_GOTO_CHAIN by first checking rcu_access_pointer(a->goto_chain) and then calling tcf_action_goto_chain_exec(), which does a second, independent rcu_dereference_bh(a->goto_chain) read and immediately dereferences chain->filter_chain. A concurrent tcf_action_set_ctrlact() (e.g. the gact replace path) can clear a->goto_chain between the two reads, so the second read returns NULL and tcf_action_goto_chain_exec() dereferences NULL. Fix the race by doing a single rcu_dereference_bh() read of a->goto_chain in tcf_action_exec(), checking it once for NULL, and passing the resulting chain pointer into tcf_action_goto_chain_exec(). This turns the split check/use into a single check/use on one value.
Title net/sched: act_api: fix TOCTOU NULL deref on a->goto_chain
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
Oct 30, 2026, 12:30 PM
Reserved
Aug 15, 2026, 5:44 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 26, 2026, 3:16 PM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:20 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Aug 26, 2026, 12:00 AM