CVE-2026-68122
ovpn: fix peer refcount leak in TCP error paths
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: fix peer refcount leak in TCP error paths When either the TCP RX or TX error path calls ovpn_peer_hold() followed by schedule_work(&peer->tcp.defer_del_work), and the work item is already pending from the other path, schedule_work() returns false and the work runs only once. Since ovpn_tcp_peer_del_work() calls ovpn_peer_put() exactly once, the extra reference taken by the losing path is never dropped, leaking the peer object. The race window: CPU0 (strparser/RX error): CPU1 (tcp_tx_work/TX error): ovpn_peer_hold() <- refcnt+1 ovpn_peer_hold() <- refcnt+2 schedule_work() <- queued schedule_work() <- NO-OP (work already pending) ovpn_tcp_peer_del_work runs: ovpn_peer_del() ovpn_peer_put() <- refcnt+1 <- peer never freed Fix by checking the return value of schedule_work() in both paths and calling ovpn_peer_put() to drop the extra reference if the work was already pending. ovpn_peer_hold() is kept unconditional in the TX path as it cannot fail at that point.
INFO
Published Date :
Aug. 10, 2026, 1:19 p.m.
Last Modified :
Aug. 17, 2026, 5:18 a.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
- Apply the kernel patch.
- Update the Linux kernel.
- Review TCP error path logic.
- Ensure work items are handled correctly.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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CVE-2026-68122.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-68122 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-2026-68122
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-2026-68122 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-68122 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.
-
CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 17, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': 'b08526bf0bbf84ceebd29033783e8e0c9f451286', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': 'f08f39c1f43f3980d46b06af8ed99ffe84ac294a', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': '63bbe18fc03062f483c627838a566a707b62da79', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/ovpn/tcp.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.16'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.16', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.42', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc5', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/ovpn/tcp.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': 'b08526bf0bbf84ceebd29033783e8e0c9f451286', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': 'f08f39c1f43f3980d46b06af8ed99ffe84ac294a', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': '63bbe18fc03062f483c627838a566a707b62da79', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/ovpn/tcp.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.16'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.16', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.42', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/ovpn/tcp.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] -
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Aug. 10, 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': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': 'b08526bf0bbf84ceebd29033783e8e0c9f451286', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': 'f08f39c1f43f3980d46b06af8ed99ffe84ac294a', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'a6a5e87b3ee4cbf9c69a776565378c9b6a91dbfb', 'lessThan': '63bbe18fc03062f483c627838a566a707b62da79', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/ovpn/tcp.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.16'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.16', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.42', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc5', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/net/ovpn/tcp.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: fix peer refcount leak in TCP error paths When either the TCP RX or TX error path calls ovpn_peer_hold() followed by schedule_work(&peer->tcp.defer_del_work), and the work item is already pending from the other path, schedule_work() returns false and the work runs only once. Since ovpn_tcp_peer_del_work() calls ovpn_peer_put() exactly once, the extra reference taken by the losing path is never dropped, leaking the peer object. The race window: CPU0 (strparser/RX error): CPU1 (tcp_tx_work/TX error): ovpn_peer_hold() <- refcnt+1 ovpn_peer_hold() <- refcnt+2 schedule_work() <- queued schedule_work() <- NO-OP (work already pending) ovpn_tcp_peer_del_work runs: ovpn_peer_del() ovpn_peer_put() <- refcnt+1 <- peer never freed Fix by checking the return value of schedule_work() in both paths and calling ovpn_peer_put() to drop the extra reference if the work was already pending. ovpn_peer_hold() is kept unconditional in the TX path as it cannot fail at that point. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/63bbe18fc03062f483c627838a566a707b62da79 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b08526bf0bbf84ceebd29033783e8e0c9f451286 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f08f39c1f43f3980d46b06af8ed99ffe84ac294a