In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
l2tp: Avoid possible recursive deadlock in l2tp_tunnel_register()
When a file descriptor of pppol2tp socket is passed as file descriptor of UDP socket, a recursive deadlock occurs in l2tp_tunnel_register(). This situation is reproduced by the following program:
int main(void) { int sock; struct sockaddr_pppol2tp addr;
sock = socket(AF_PPPOX, SOCK_DGRAM, PX_PROTO_OL2TP); if (sock < 0) { perror("socket"); return 1; }
addr.sa_family = AF_PPPOX; addr.sa_protocol = PX_PROTO_OL2TP; addr.pppol2tp.pid = 0; addr.pppol2tp.fd = sock; addr.pppol2tp.addr.sin_family = PF_INET; addr.pppol2tp.addr.sin_port = htons(0); addr.pppol2tp.addr.sin_addr.s_addr = inet_addr("192.168.0.1"); addr.pppol2tp.s_tunnel = 1; addr.pppol2tp.s_session = 0; addr.pppol2tp.d_tunnel = 0; addr.pppol2tp.d_session = 0;
if (connect(sock, (const struct sockaddr *)&addr, sizeof(addr)) < 0) { perror("connect"); return 1; }
return 0; }
This program causes the following lockdep warning:
============================================ WARNING: possible recursive locking detected 6.2.0-rc5-00205-gc96618275234 #56 Not tainted -------------------------------------------- repro/8607 is trying to acquire lock: ffff8880213c8130 (sk_lock-AF_PPPOX){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0
but task is already holding lock: ffff8880213c8130 (sk_lock-AF_PPPOX){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: pppol2tp_connect+0xa82/0x1a30
other info that might help us debug this: Possible unsafe locking scenario:
CPU0 ---- lock(sk_lock-AF_PPPOX); lock(sk_lock-AF_PPPOX);
*** DEADLOCK ***
May be due to missing lock nesting notation
1 lock held by repro/8607: #0: ffff8880213c8130 (sk_lock-AF_PPPOX){+.+.}-{0:0}, at: pppol2tp_connect+0xa82/0x1a30
stack backtrace: CPU: 0 PID: 8607 Comm: repro Not tainted 6.2.0-rc5-00205-gc96618275234 #56 Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (i440FX + PIIX, 1996), BIOS 1.16.1-2.fc37 04/01/2014 Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x100/0x178 __lock_acquire.cold+0x119/0x3b9 ? lockdep_hardirqs_on_prepare+0x410/0x410 lock_acquire+0x1e0/0x610 ? l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0 ? lock_downgrade+0x710/0x710 ? __fget_files+0x283/0x3e0 lock_sock_nested+0x3a/0xf0 ? l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0 l2tp_tunnel_register+0x2b7/0x11c0 ? sprintf+0xc4/0x100 ? l2tp_tunnel_del_work+0x6b0/0x6b0 ? debug_object_deactivate+0x320/0x320 ? lockdep_init_map_type+0x16d/0x7a0 ? lockdep_init_map_type+0x16d/0x7a0 ? l2tp_tunnel_create+0x2bf/0x4b0 ? l2tp_tunnel_create+0x3c6/0x4b0 pppol2tp_connect+0x14e1/0x1a30 ? pppol2tp_put_sk+0xd0/0xd0 ? aa_sk_perm+0x2b7/0xa80 ? aa_af_perm+0x260/0x260 ? bpf_lsm_socket_connect+0x9/0x10 ? pppol2tp_put_sk+0xd0/0xd0 __sys_connect_file+0x14f/0x190 __sys_connect+0x133/0x160 ? __sys_connect_file+0x190/0x190 ? lockdep_hardirqs_on+0x7d/0x100 ? ktime_get_coarse_real_ts64+0x1b7/0x200 ? ktime_get_coarse_real_ts64+0x147/0x200 ? __audit_syscall_entry+0x396/0x500 __x64_sys_connect+0x72/0xb0 do_syscall_64+0x38/0xb0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x63/0xcd
This patch fixes the issue by getting/creating the tunnel before locking the pppol2tp socket.
Covered by Rapid7
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux Ami 2 | — | Upgrade perfUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-headersUpgrade python-perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade kernel-develUpgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-livepatch-5.10.173-154.642Upgrade python-perfUpgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade bpftoolUpgrade bpftool-debuginfo | May 20, 2026 | May 20, 2026 |
| Debian | — | Upgrade linux | Dec 10, 2025 | Dec 10, 2025 |
| Redhat_linux | — | No solution exists | Jul 17, 2026 | Dec 9, 2025 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-realtimeUpgrade linux-oracleUpgrade linux-gcp-5.15Upgrade linux-ibmUpgrade linux-awsUpgrade linux-kvmUpgrade linux-azureUpgrade linux-hwe-5.15Upgrade linux-azure-5.15Upgrade linux-intel-iotg-5.15Upgrade linux-gkeopUpgrade linux-nvidiaUpgrade linux-bluefieldUpgrade linux-raspiUpgrade linux-nvidia-tegraUpgrade linux-gkeUpgrade linux-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15Upgrade linuxUpgrade linux-gcpUpgrade linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15Upgrade linux-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-aws-5.15Upgrade linux-riscv-5.15Upgrade linux-oracle-5.15Upgrade linux-intel-iot-realtime | Dec 11, 2025 | Dec 9, 2025 |
Prioritise with Active Threat Intelligence
With curated Threat Intelligence, you can see which vulnerabilities truly put you at risk, prioritize what matters most, and act before attackers do.
Explore Intelligence Hub