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4Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ipv6: fix panic when IPv4 route references loopback IPv6 nexthop When a standalone IPv6 nexthop object is created with a loopback device (e.g., "ip -6 nexthop add id 100 dev lo"), fib6_nh_init() misclassifies it as a reject route. This is because nexthop objects have no destination prefix (fc_dst=::), causing fib6_is_reject() to match any loopback nexthop. The reject path skips fib_nh_common_init(), leaving nhc_pcpu_rth_output unallocated. If an IPv4 route later references this nexthop, __mkroute_output() dereferences NULL nhc_pcpu_rth_output and panics. Simplify the check in fib6_nh_init() to only match explicit reject routes (RTF_REJECT) instead of using fib6_is_reject(). The loopback promotion heuristic in fib6_is_reject() is handled separately by ip6_route_info_create_nh(). After this change, the three cases behave as follows: 1. Explicit reject route ("ip -6 route add unreachable 2001:db8::/64"): RTF_REJECT is set, enters reject path, skips fib_nh_common_init(). No behavior change. 2. Implicit loopback reject route ("ip -6 route add 2001:db8::/32 dev lo"): RTF_REJECT is not set, takes normal path, fib_nh_common_init() is called. ip6_route_info_create_nh() still promotes it to reject afterward. nhc_pcpu_rth_output is allocated but unused, which is harmless. 3. Standalone nexthop object ("ip -6 nexthop add id 100 dev lo"): RTF_REJECT is not set, takes normal path, fib_nh_common_init() is called. nhc_pcpu_rth_output is properly allocated, fixing the crash when IPv4 routes reference this nexthop.
Analysis
A kernel panic vulnerability exists in Linux IPv6 nexthop handling where standalone IPv6 nexthop objects created with loopback devices are misclassified as reject routes, causing the nhc_pcpu_rth_output field to remain unallocated. When an IPv4 route subsequently references this nexthop, a NULL pointer dereference in __mkroute_output() triggers a kernel panic, resulting in denial of service. …
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Priority Score
Vendor Status
Debian
| Release | Status | Fixed Version | Urgency |
|---|---|---|---|
| bullseye | vulnerable | 5.10.223-1 | - |
| bullseye (security) | vulnerable | 5.10.251-1 | - |
| bookworm | vulnerable | 6.1.159-1 | - |
| bookworm (security) | vulnerable | 6.1.164-1 | - |
| trixie | vulnerable | 6.12.73-1 | - |
| trixie (security) | vulnerable | 6.12.74-2 | - |
| forky, sid | fixed | 6.19.8-1 | - |
| (unstable) | fixed | 6.19.8-1 | - |
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External POC / Exploit Code
Leaving vuln.today
EUVD-2026-15235
GHSA-77gg-4hmh-hwxc