In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
af_unix: Clear stale u->oob_skb.
syzkaller started to report deadlock of unix_gc_lock after commit 4090fa373f0e ("af_unix: Replace garbage collection algorithm."), but it just uncovers the bug that has been there since commit 314001f0bf92 ("af_unix: Add OOB support").
The repro basically does the following.
from socket import * from array import array
c1, c2 = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM) c1.sendmsg([b'a'], [(SOL_SOCKET, SCM_RIGHTS, array("i", [c2.fileno()]))], MSG_OOB) c2.recv(1) # blocked as no normal data in recv queue
c2.close() # done async and unblock recv() c1.close() # done async and trigger GC
A socket sends its file descriptor to itself as OOB data and tries to receive normal data, but finally recv() fails due to async close().
The problem here is wrong handling of OOB skb in manage_oob(). When recvmsg() is called without MSG_OOB, manage_oob() is called to check if the peeked skb is OOB skb. In such a case, manage_oob() pops it out of the receive queue but does not clear unix_sock(sk)->oob_skb. This is wrong in terms of uAPI.
Let's say we send "hello" with MSG_OOB, and "world" without MSG_OOB. The 'o' is handled as OOB data. When recv() is called twice without MSG_OOB, the OOB data should be lost.
>>> from socket import * >>> c1, c2 = socketpair(AF_UNIX, SOCK_STREAM, 0) >>> c1.send(b'hello', MSG_OOB) # 'o' is OOB data 5 >>> c1.send(b'world') 5 >>> c2.recv(5) # OOB data is not received b'hell' >>> c2.recv(5) # OOB date is skipped b'world' >>> c2.recv(5, MSG_OOB) # This should return an error b'o'
In the same situation, TCP actually returns -EINVAL for the last recv().
Also, if we do not clear unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb, unix_poll() always set EPOLLPRI even though the data has passed through by previous recv().
To avoid these issues, we must clear unix_sk(sk)->oob_skb when dequeuing it from recv queue.
The reason why the old GC did not trigger the deadlock is because the old GC relied on the receive queue to detect the loop.
When it is triggered, the socket with OOB data is marked as GC candidate because file refcount == inflight count (1). However, after traversing all inflight sockets, the socket still has a positive inflight count (1), thus the socket is excluded from candidates. Then, the old GC lose the chance to garbage-collect the socket.
With the old GC, the repro continues to create true garbage that will never be freed nor detected by kmemleak as it's linked to the global inflight list. That's why we couldn't even notice the issue.
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux Ami 2 | — | Upgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade perfUpgrade python-perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade bpftool-debuginfoUpgrade kernelUpgrade python-perfUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-livepatch-5.15.156-102.160Upgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64 | May 22, 2025 | May 20, 2024 |
| Amazon_linux_2023 | — | Upgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-libbpfUpgrade python3-perfUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade perfUpgrade kernel-modules-extra-commonUpgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-modules-extraUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade bpftool-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-libbpf-staticUpgrade python3-perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel-livepatch-6.1.87-99.174Upgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-libbpf-develUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64 | Jun 11, 2025 | May 20, 2024 |
| Debian | — | Upgrade linux | Jul 30, 2024 | May 20, 2024 |
| Redhat_linux | — | No solution exists | Jul 9, 2025 | May 20, 2024 |
| Suse | — | Upgrade kernel-docsUpgrade kernel-azure-develUpgrade kernel-rt_debug-vdsoUpgrade dlm-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-devel-azureUpgrade kernel-docs-htmlUpgrade kernel-64kbUpgrade kernel-rt_debugUpgrade dtb-apmUpgrade dtb-socionextUpgrade kernel-azure-vdsoUpgrade dtb-appleUpgrade kernel-debug-livepatch-develUpgrade gfs2-kmp-64kbUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-azure-extraUpgrade gfs2-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-azure-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-default-extraUpgrade dlm-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-default-base-rebuildUpgrade kernel-obs-qaUpgrade kernel-source-azureUpgrade kernel-macrosUpgrade kernel-symsUpgrade dtb-qcomUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-develUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-vdsoUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-kvmsmallUpgrade kernel-rt-vdsoUpgrade kernel-rt-livepatch-develUpgrade dtb-armUpgrade kernel-zfcpdumpUpgrade dtb-amlogicUpgrade dtb-amazonUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-defaultUpgrade kselftests-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-64kb-optionalUpgrade kernel-64kb-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-syms-rtUpgrade dtb-mediatekUpgrade dtb-marvellUpgrade kernel-syms-azureUpgrade kernel-sourceUpgrade dtb-exynosUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-rtUpgrade kernel-default-develUpgrade dtb-freescaleUpgrade kernel-debug-vdsoUpgrade dtb-amdUpgrade dtb-caviumUpgrade kernel-obs-buildUpgrade dlm-kmp-64kbUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-rtUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-default-baseUpgrade dtb-allwinnerUpgrade kernel-devel-rtUpgrade kernel-rt-extraUpgrade dtb-alteraUpgrade dtb-rockchipUpgrade dtb-sprdUpgrade kernel-defaultUpgrade kernel-azure-optionalUpgrade kernel-rt-develUpgrade kernel-64kb-extraUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-rt_debug-develUpgrade kselftests-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-source-vanillaUpgrade kernel-default-optionalUpgrade kernel-default-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-debug-develUpgrade dtb-hisiliconUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-64kbUpgrade kselftests-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-source-rtUpgrade kernel-default-livepatchUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-azureUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-azureUpgrade gfs2-kmp-defaultUpgrade dtb-xilinxUpgrade dtb-renesasUpgrade dtb-nvidiaUpgrade dtb-broadcomUpgrade dlm-kmp-rtUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-defaultUpgrade kselftests-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-rt_debug-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-64kb-develUpgrade kernel-debugUpgrade dtb-lgUpgrade kernel-default-vdsoUpgrade kernel-rt-optionalUpgrade gfs2-kmp-azure | Jul 23, 2024 | May 20, 2024 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-image-awsUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-genericUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-lowlatency-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-nvidia-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1011-awsUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1006-gkeUpgrade linux-image-virtualUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-20.04Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1063-oracleUpgrade linux-image-generic-lpaeUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1048-gkeopUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1060-nvidia-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1062-gkeUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1058-ibmUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1007-raspiUpgrade linux-image-aws-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1035-xilinx-zynqmpUpgrade linux-image-azure-cvmUpgrade linux-image-kvmUpgrade linux-image-ibm-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1010-azureUpgrade linux-image-generic-lpae-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-raspi-nolpaeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1007-intelUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-gkeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1010-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-oracleUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-oracle-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1068-azureUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1065-gcpUpgrade linux-image-gcp-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64k-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-gkeopUpgrade linux-image-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-oracleUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1058-raspiUpgrade linux-image-raspiUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-genericUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04cUpgrade linux-image-gcpUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1009-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-azureUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1060-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-intelUpgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-azure-fde-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-24.04Upgrade linux-image-gke-5.15Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1060-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1009-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-generic-lpaeUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-xilinx-zynqmpUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1065-awsUpgrade linux-image-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-image-ibm-classicUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1062-kvmUpgrade linux-image-gkeop-5.15Upgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04bUpgrade linux-image-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1064-gcpUpgrade linux-image-azure-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-ibmUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1068-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-24.04aUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-ibmUpgrade linux-image-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1010-gcpUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04dUpgrade linux-image-genericUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-oemUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k | Jul 12, 2024 | May 20, 2024 |
| Vmware Photon_os | — | Use 'tdnf update' to upgrade all packages to the latest version. | Oct 14, 2025 | May 20, 2024 |
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