High [CVE-2026-53250] cache csum_start/csum_offset to fix TOCTOU in xsk_skb_metadata
This high-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-53250 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat package: kernel-rt.
Aggregated and source-linked by VulniPulse. Data sources, validation and limitations.
VulniPulse record published Record updated
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: cache csum_start/csum_offset to fix TOCTOU in xsk_skb_metadata() The TX metadata area resides in the UMEM buffer which is memory-mapped and concurrently writable by userspace.
In xsk_skb_metadata(), csum_start and csum_offset are read from shared memory for bounds validation, then read again for skb assignment. A malicious userspace application can race to overwrite these values between the two reads, bypassing the bounds check and causing out-of-bounds memory access during checksum computation in the transmit path.
Fix this by reading csum_start and csum_offset into local variables once, then using the local copies for both validation and assignment.
Note that other metadata fields (flags, launch_time) and the cached csum fields may be mutually inconsistent due to concurrent userspace writes, but this is benign: the only security-critical invariant is that each field's validated value is the same one used, which local caching guarantees.
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's xsk (AF_XDP socket) component. A malicious local userspace application can exploit a Time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race condition in the `xsk_skb_metadata()` function.
By modifying checksum-related values in shared memory between validation and use, an attacker can bypass security checks.
Is CVE-2026-53250 exploited?
No exploitation is reported in the sources VulniPulse tracks: CVE-2026-53250 is not in the CISA KEV catalog (checked ) and this advisory does not report exploitation. That is not proof the vulnerability cannot be exploited.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53250?
The advisory VulniPulse tracks names no fixed release. Follow Red Hat's guidance for workarounds and updates.
Confirm against the vendor advisory before you patch.
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 15 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 15 days ago·verify at source
Mitigation
The source record does not include mitigation steps. That does not mean no fix exists. Read the vendor advisory below for the authoritative guidance.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 15 days ago·verify at source
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