CVE-2026-52974
net: tls: fix strparser anchor skb leak on offload RX setup failure
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: tls: fix strparser anchor skb leak on offload RX setup failure When tls_set_device_offload_rx() fails at tls_dev_add(), the error path calls tls_sw_free_resources_rx() to clean up the SW context that was initialized by tls_set_sw_offload(). This function calls tls_sw_release_resources_rx() (which stops the strparser via tls_strp_stop()) and tls_sw_free_ctx_rx() (which kfrees the context), but never frees the anchor skb that was allocated by alloc_skb(0) in tls_strp_init(). Note that tls_sw_free_resources_rx() is exclusively used for this "failed to start offload" code path, there's no other caller. The leak did not exist before commit 84c61fe1a75b ("tls: rx: do not use the standard strparser"), because the standard strparser doesn't try to pre-allocate an skb. The normal close path in tls_sk_proto_close() handles cleanup by calling tls_sw_strparser_done() (which calls tls_strp_done()) after dropping the socket lock, because tls_strp_done() does cancel_work_sync() and the strparser work handler takes the socket lock.
INFO
Published Date :
June 24, 2026, 5:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
July 14, 2026, 4:52 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
Yes !
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
CVSS Scores
| Score | Version | Severity | Vector | Exploitability Score | Impact Score | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | HIGH | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 |
Solution
- Apply the patch to the Linux kernel.
- Ensure the TLS RX offload setup is robust.
- Verify anchor skb is freed on failure.
- Review TLS offload error handling.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-52974.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-52974 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-52974
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-52974 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-52974 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
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Initial Analysis by [email protected]
Jul. 14, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CWE CWE-401 Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.2 up to (excluding) 6.6.141 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.7 up to (excluding) 6.12.91 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.13 up to (excluding) 6.18.33 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.19 up to (excluding) 7.0.10 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.0 up to (excluding) 6.1.175 Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c9f399b37ce22a5ed94cc51f03ed07ac7f38e32 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c405dfa9619e506e75b8e41f8b29a5b99731877 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58689498ca3384851145a754dbb1d8ed1cf9fb54 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/688f12aa44511dd57e448eb670075c6302ad1dc1 Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c54e76f8d6eb11735918777ef0e0509e089557d Types: Patch Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd07fe6c38b9e44ff3fc02692a53f095c5cc9afc Types: Patch -
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Jun. 28, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added CVSS V3.1 AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Jun. 24, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417', 'lessThan': '0c9f399b37ce22a5ed94cc51f03ed07ac7f38e32', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417', 'lessThan': '688f12aa44511dd57e448eb670075c6302ad1dc1', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417', 'lessThan': '3c405dfa9619e506e75b8e41f8b29a5b99731877', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417', 'lessThan': '9c54e76f8d6eb11735918777ef0e0509e089557d', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417', 'lessThan': 'bd07fe6c38b9e44ff3fc02692a53f095c5cc9afc', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': '84c61fe1a75b4255df1e1e7c054c9e6d048da417', 'lessThan': '58689498ca3384851145a754dbb1d8ed1cf9fb54', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['net/tls/tls.h', 'net/tls/tls_strp.c', 'net/tls/tls_sw.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.0'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.0', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.1.175', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.6.141', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.6.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.91', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.33', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.0.10', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.0.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['net/tls/tls.h', 'net/tls/tls_strp.c', 'net/tls/tls_sw.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: tls: fix strparser anchor skb leak on offload RX setup failure When tls_set_device_offload_rx() fails at tls_dev_add(), the error path calls tls_sw_free_resources_rx() to clean up the SW context that was initialized by tls_set_sw_offload(). This function calls tls_sw_release_resources_rx() (which stops the strparser via tls_strp_stop()) and tls_sw_free_ctx_rx() (which kfrees the context), but never frees the anchor skb that was allocated by alloc_skb(0) in tls_strp_init(). Note that tls_sw_free_resources_rx() is exclusively used for this "failed to start offload" code path, there's no other caller. The leak did not exist before commit 84c61fe1a75b ("tls: rx: do not use the standard strparser"), because the standard strparser doesn't try to pre-allocate an skb. The normal close path in tls_sk_proto_close() handles cleanup by calling tls_sw_strparser_done() (which calls tls_strp_done()) after dropping the socket lock, because tls_strp_done() does cancel_work_sync() and the strparser work handler takes the socket lock. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c9f399b37ce22a5ed94cc51f03ed07ac7f38e32 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c405dfa9619e506e75b8e41f8b29a5b99731877 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58689498ca3384851145a754dbb1d8ed1cf9fb54 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/688f12aa44511dd57e448eb670075c6302ad1dc1 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c54e76f8d6eb11735918777ef0e0509e089557d Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd07fe6c38b9e44ff3fc02692a53f095c5cc9afc