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.
CVSS Details
- CVSS 3.1 Base Score: 6.3
- CVSS 3.1 Vector: (CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L)
Covered by Rapid7
| Product | Vendor Advisory | Solution File | Added | Published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux Ami 2 | — | Upgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade perfUpgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade bpftool-debuginfoUpgrade python-perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade python-perfUpgrade kernelUpgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-livepatch-5.15.156-102.160Upgrade kernel-develUpgrade bpftool | May 22, 2025 | May 20, 2024 |
| Amazon_linux_2023 | — | Upgrade kernel-toolsUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade kernel-tools-develUpgrade kernel-modules-extra-commonUpgrade python3-perfUpgrade perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-libbpfUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-aarch64Upgrade perfUpgrade kernel-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-livepatch-6.1.87-99.174Upgrade kernel-headersUpgrade kernel-libbpf-develUpgrade kernel-debuginfo-common-x86_64Upgrade kernel-tools-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-modules-extraUpgrade bpftool-debuginfoUpgrade python3-perf-debuginfoUpgrade kernel-libbpf-staticUpgrade bpftoolUpgrade kernel | 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 dtb-hisiliconUpgrade kernel-debug-develUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-default-livepatchUpgrade dtb-nvidiaUpgrade dtb-renesasUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-azureUpgrade kselftests-kmp-azureUpgrade gfs2-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-azureUpgrade kernel-debug-vdsoUpgrade kernel-develUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-64kb-extraUpgrade kselftests-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-rt_debug-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-devel-rtUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-default-baseUpgrade kernel-rt-extraUpgrade dtb-alteraUpgrade dlm-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-source-rtUpgrade dtb-allwinnerUpgrade dtb-broadcomUpgrade dtb-xilinxUpgrade kernel-azure-optionalUpgrade kernel-defaultUpgrade kernel-rt-develUpgrade kernel-rt_debug-develUpgrade dtb-lgUpgrade kernel-64kb-develUpgrade dtb-freescaleUpgrade gfs2-kmp-azureUpgrade dtb-amdUpgrade kernel-default-vdsoUpgrade dtb-rockchipUpgrade kernel-rt-optionalUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-defaultUpgrade dtb-sprdUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-64kbUpgrade kernel-debugUpgrade dtb-caviumUpgrade kernel-obs-buildUpgrade dlm-kmp-64kbUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-default-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-default-optionalUpgrade kselftests-kmp-rtUpgrade kernel-source-vanillaUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-develUpgrade kernel-syms-azureUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-rt_debugUpgrade kernel-zfcpdumpUpgrade kernel-default-extraUpgrade dtb-exynosUpgrade dtb-amlogicUpgrade dtb-apmUpgrade kernel-debug-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-azure-vdsoUpgrade kernel-sourceUpgrade dtb-marvellUpgrade ocfs2-kmp-rtUpgrade dtb-appleUpgrade kernel-rt-livepatch-develUpgrade dtb-socionextUpgrade kselftests-kmp-defaultUpgrade cluster-md-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-rt-vdsoUpgrade kernel-kvmsmallUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-vdsoUpgrade kernel-64kb-optionalUpgrade kernel-macrosUpgrade dtb-qcomUpgrade kernel-devel-azureUpgrade kernel-azure-develUpgrade kernel-rt_debug-vdsoUpgrade kernel-obs-qaUpgrade kernel-source-azureUpgrade kernel-default-develUpgrade dlm-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-symsUpgrade dlm-kmp-defaultUpgrade kernel-docs-htmlUpgrade kernel-64kb-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-docsUpgrade gfs2-kmp-64kbUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-rtUpgrade dtb-armUpgrade kernel-kvmsmall-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-azure-livepatch-develUpgrade kernel-64kbUpgrade dtb-mediatekUpgrade kernel-rtUpgrade kernel-default-base-rebuildUpgrade reiserfs-kmp-azureUpgrade kernel-syms-rtUpgrade kernel-azure-extraUpgrade gfs2-kmp-rtUpgrade dtb-amazon | Jul 23, 2024 | May 20, 2024 |
| Ubuntu | — | Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1007-raspiUpgrade linux-image-azure-cvmUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1048-gkeopUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1062-gkeUpgrade linux-image-generic-lpae-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-virtualUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1063-oracleUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1065-gcpUpgrade linux-image-aws-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1010-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-gkeUpgrade linux-image-oracleUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1011-awsUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64k-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-gcp-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1058-ibmUpgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-awsUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-oracle-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1060-nvidia-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1035-xilinx-zynqmpUpgrade linux-image-kvmUpgrade linux-image-generic-lpaeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1007-intelUpgrade linux-image-raspi-nolpaeUpgrade linux-image-ibm-lts-24.04Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1068-azureUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1010-azureUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-genericUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1006-gkeUpgrade linux-image-lowlatency-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-generic-64k-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-azureUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1065-awsUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1064-gcpUpgrade linux-image-oracle-64kUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1009-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1060-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-image-intel-iotgUpgrade linux-image-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-lowlatency-64kUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1062-kvmUpgrade linux-image-generic-64kUpgrade linux-image-xilinx-zynqmpUpgrade linux-image-oem-24.04aUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-generic-lpaeUpgrade linux-image-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-116-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-generic-hwe-24.04Upgrade linux-image-gkeopUpgrade linux-image-genericUpgrade linux-image-virtual-hwe-20.04Upgrade linux-image-ibm-classicUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-38-genericUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1060-nvidiaUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-oracleUpgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1068-azure-fdeUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1010-gcpUpgrade linux-image-lowlatencyUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04dUpgrade linux-image-ibmUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-ibmUpgrade linux-image-gcpUpgrade linux-image-oem-24.04Upgrade linux-image-gkeop-5.15Upgrade linux-image-5.15.0-1058-raspiUpgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1008-oemUpgrade linux-image-azure-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-oem-20.04bUpgrade linux-image-raspiUpgrade linux-image-oem-20.04cUpgrade linux-image-azure-fde-lts-22.04Upgrade linux-image-6.8.0-1009-nvidia-64kUpgrade linux-image-gke-5.15Upgrade linux-image-intel | 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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