CVE-2026-74434

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: rxrpc: Don't move a peeked OOB message onto the pending queue rxrpc_recvmsg_oob() takes a received oob message off recvmsg_oobq and, if a response is needed, moves it onto the pending_oobq tree. However, only the unlink from recvmsg_oobq is guarded by MSG_PEEK; the move onto pending_oobq always runs. As a result, reading a challenge with MSG_PEEK leaves the skb on recvmsg_oobq while also adding it to pending_oobq. Since struct sk_buff's rbnode shares storage with its next and prev pointers, rb_insert_color() overwrites the list linkage, and the skb, which holds a single reference, becomes reachable from both queues at once. When the socket is closed both queues are drained in turn. While draining recvmsg_oobq, __skb_unlink() follows the next and prev pointers that rbnode has overwritten and writes to a bad address. Also, as the skb holds a single reference but is freed from each queue, both the skb and the connection reference it holds are released twice. This leads to memory corruption and to a use-after-free caused by the connection refcount underflow. MSG_PEEK does not consume the message from the queue, so only unlink it from recvmsg_oobq and then move it onto pending_oobq or free it when the message is actually consumed.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-08-15
Last modified 2026-08-15
Patch available
Yes

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.16 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.40, 7.1.5, 7.2-rc1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.16
Fixed in
✓ 6.18.40 6.18.x ✓ 7.1.5 7.1.x ✓ 7.2-rc1

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-74434?

    CVE-2026-74434 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.16 onward and has been patched in 6.18.40, 7.1.5 and 7.2-rc1. CVE-2026-74434 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-74434?

    Yes. CVE-2026-74434 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.40, 7.1.5 and 7.2-rc1. If you are running Linux kernel 6.16 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-74434 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-74434 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.