Advisory [CVE-2026-53248] Fix use-after-free in metadata dst teardown
This security Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-53248.
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Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: airoha: Fix use-after-free in metadata dst teardown airoha_metadata_dst_free() runs metadata_dst_free() which frees the metadata_dst with kfree() immediately, bypassing the RCU grace period.
In the RX path, skb_dst_set_noref() sets a non-refcounted pointer from the skb to the metadata_dst. This function requires RCU read-side protection and the dst must remain valid until all RCU readers complete.
Since metadata_dst_free() calls kfree() directly, an use-after-free can occur if any skb still holds a noref pointer to the dst when the driver tears it down.
Replace metadata_dst_free() with dst_release() which properly goes through the refcount path: when the refcount drops to zero, it schedules the actual free via call_rcu_hurry(), ensuring all RCU readers have completed before the memory is freed. A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's airoha network driver.
This use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the `airoha_metadata_dst_free()` function frees memory prematurely, before all references to it are released. If a network packet still holds a pointer to the freed memory, a use-after-free condition can arise.
This could lead to system instability or potentially allow an attacker to escalate privileges. Red Hat severity: not rated.
Weakness: CWE-911.
Affected versions
No affected-version range was extracted from the source record. The vendor advisory is authoritative — check it before change work.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 9 days ago·verify at source
Fixed versions
No fixed release is recorded yet. That does not prove no patch exists — confirm against the vendor advisory.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 9 days ago·verify at source
Mitigation
The source record does not include mitigation steps. That is not a statement that no fix exists — read the vendor advisory below for the authoritative guidance.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 9 days ago·verify at source
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