HIGH Introduced in 6.16
ovpn DeferredWork UAF
CVE-2026-80753
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
KernelScan AI6.4MEDIUM
01Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ovpn: run deferred work on a module-owned workqueue ovpn queues several work items whose callbacks execute module text. These works currently run on the global system workqueues, so module exit has no driver-owned drain point that guarantees the callbacks have fully returned before the module text can be freed. Object references protect the objects used by the callbacks, but they do not prove that a workqueue function has returned. In particular, a worker can drop the final reference that unblocks device teardown while it is still executing ovpn code. Add a module-owned workqueue and queue all ovpn work items on it. During module exit, unregister rtnl and netlink first, flush the workqueue so ordinary ovpn workers finish, run the final RCU barrier, and destroy the workqueue last. This keeps the workqueue available for cleanup work queued from RCU callbacks, while ensuring no ovpn work item can outlive the module text. The per-device delayed keepalive work remains explicitly disabled during netdev teardown (disable_delayed_work_sync in ndo_uninit), since flush_workqueue does not flush delayed work that is still only pending on its timer.
02KernelScan AI Analysis
Risk summary
The ovpn kernel module queues deferred work items on the global system workqueue, so module unload can free module code while a worker is still executing it. A local attacker who can trigger or influence module teardown timing could cause use-after-free of module text, leading to kernel memory corruption, denial of service, or potential privilege escalation.
Vulnerability analysis
The ovpn driver schedules deferred work items on the global system workqueue. When the module is unloaded, there is no guarantee that those callbacks have fully returned before the module text is freed. A worker can unblock device teardown while it is still executing ovpn code, allowing the module text to be freed underneath the running callback. The fix moves all ovpn work items to a module-owned workqueue and flushes it during module exit before destroying it, ensuring no work item outlives the module text. The vulnerable path is reachable only by a privileged local actor who can unload the ovpn kernel module.
Lifecycle
03Fix Versions
| Branch | Introduced | Fixed in | Patch commit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6.18 | 6.16 | 6.18.50 | b5fe67111e63 |
| 7.1 | 6.16 | 7.1.10 | bbe81f40582d |
| mainline | 6.16 | 7.2 | e9714db80417 |