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Linux Kernel EUVDEUVD-2026-66585

| CVE-2026-80519 CRITICAL
2026-08-26 Linux GHSA-4qjp-chcx-vxh6
Critical
Disputed · 9.8 Vendor: Linux
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Attack ChainAIDerived

Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain

  1. Access
    Local access to ovpn-enabled kernel
  2. Delivery
    Drive rapid peer disconnect or module unload
  3. Exploit
    Win RCU callback-vs-peer-release race
  4. Execution
    Callback fires on freed peer/module text
  5. Impact
    Kernel use-after-free / crash

Vulnerability Assessment

Exploitation Conditions

Requires the ovpn (in-kernel OpenVPN data-channel-offload) module to be built and in use - systems without ovpn are unaffected. The race is reached via peer release (last peer reference drop) during active crypto callbacks, or via the TX error path, or during module unload/netdev unregistration; the module-removal path additionally needs CAP_SYS_MODULE (root). Limiting factors: high attack complexity (a narrow RCU/async-callback timing window that must be won), local access to drive ovpn peer state, and applicability only to recent kernels shipping the ovpn driver. This is not remotely reachable against a default configuration despite the input's AV:N rating.

Impact

The supplied CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N, C:H/I:H/A:H = 9.8) is inconsistent with the described mechanism and should be treated as an automated over-rating. The actual defect is a race between async crypto callbacks and peer/netdev/module teardown - triggering it requires local interaction with an ovpn interface and, for the module-removal window, CAP_SYS_MODULE (root). Attack complexity is high (a narrow RCU timing window), so 'AC:L/PR:N' does not hold. No EPSS score, KEV entry, or POC was provided; there is no public exploit identified at time of analysis. This is a correctness/robustness fix with primarily availability (kernel crash/UAF) impact, not a widely-exploitable network RCE. The 'Information Disclosure' tag in the input conflicts with the description, which points to a teardown memory-corruption/crash rather than a read primitive - verify with the upstream commits before treating leakage as confirmed. Net: low real-world priority relative to the 9.8 label; patch during normal kernel maintenance.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A local user or process able to bring ovpn peers up and down (or an administrator unloading the ovpn module) triggers rapid peer disconnects while crypto completions are in flight, winning the RCU timing window so a callback fires against freed peer/module memory. The result is kernel memory corruption-typically a crash (DoS), with theoretical escalation potential inherent to a use-after-free. No POC is provided and the high attack complexity makes reliable exploitation difficult.

Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Why: CRITICAL severity.
Patch available 0.4% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAIv1 – Aug 27, 2026

A use-after-free / lifetime race in the Linux kernel's ovpn (in-kernel OpenVPN data-channel offload) module lets crypto completion callbacks outlive the peer and netdev they depend on. Because the callback holds both key-slot and peer references, dropping the last peer reference too early can schedule an RCU callback backed by already-freed module text after ovpn_cleanup's rcu_barrier has run, corrupting kernel memory during peer teardown or module removal. There is no public exploit identified at time of analysis, and despite the input's 9.8 CVSS this is a teardown-path race, not a remote unauthenticated RCE.

RemediationAI

Upstream fix available (stable commits a3a67649, 4b0de8be, 9e163917); update to a kernel that includes them - per EUVD data the corrected stable builds are 6.18.46, 7.1.10, and 7.2 or later, so apply your distribution's kernel update carrying these commits. If you cannot patch immediately and do not use in-kernel OpenVPN DCO, prevent the module from loading (blacklist 'ovpn' via /etc/modprobe.d, e.g. 'install ovpn /bin/false') to remove exposure entirely - the trade-off is loss of kernel-accelerated OpenVPN, forcing userspace OpenVPN instead. Where ovpn is required, avoid unloading/reloading the module on production systems and restrict CAP_SYS_MODULE to reduce the module-removal race window; this limits operational module management. Track the commits at the kernel.org stable links above for the exact tagged release matching your series.

Affected VersionsENISA

Linux 8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <4b0de8be288f5fbec5d8ee64ed4e8b14bf19b517
Linux 8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <a3a676495c6419e0cca04d6a67227604e92a3d5a
Linux patch: 0
Linux patch: 7.2
Linux patch: 6.18.46
Linux 6.16
Linux 8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <9e163917a86c6adfbe150e13f4c73653a54616de
Linux patch: 7.1.10

Affected Packages

euvd linux no fix

Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)

Affects your stack

Affects 1 package in euvd

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

The affected component is 'ovpn', the in-kernel OpenVPN data-channel-offload driver introduced in recent mainline kernels (6.16 era). It performs symmetric crypto on VPN packets asynchronously; completion callbacks (ovpn_crypto_key_slot_put and the associated peer_put) hold references that pin the key slot, the peer, and transitively the netdev and the module itself. The root cause is an ordering bug in reference release (a use-after-free class defect, effectively CWE-416, though the input lists CWE as N/A): if ovpn_crypto_key_slot_put runs after ovpn_peer_put, the last peer reference can be dropped while an RCU callback whose function pointer lives in module text is still pending. Once module removal proceeds past rcu_barrier, that callback executes against freed text. The TX error path had the same flaw, freeing the remaining skb after ovpn_peer_put. The fix reorders cleanup: release the key slot and free any residual skb first, and drop the peer reference last.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

Sources disagree (Medium–Critical)
Vendor (Linux) PRIMARY 9.8 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
vuln.today AI 4.7 MEDIUM

Local trigger via ovpn peer/module teardown (AV:L), narrow RCU race (AC:H), needs privileges to drive ovpn/module state (PR:L); impact is a use-after-free crash so A:H, C/I:N.

3.1 AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.0 AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
SUSE 5.2 HIGH
AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
Red Hat 5.5 MEDIUM

vuln.today treats the vendor’s rating as authoritative. A higher third-party CVSS (e.g. CISA-ADP) is shown for transparency but does not drive the headline severity.

CVSS VectorVendor: Linux

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

Lifecycle Timeline

4
CVSS changed
Aug 27, 2026 - 06:22 NVD
9.8 (CRITICAL)
Patch available
Aug 26, 2026 - 16:17 EUVD
CVE Published
Aug 26, 2026 - 14:37 cve.org
UNKNOWN (no severity yet)
CVE Published
Aug 26, 2026 - 14:37 cve.org
CRITICAL 9.8

DescriptionCVE.org

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ovpn: finish crypto callback cleanup before peer release

Crypto completion callbacks hold both key-slot and peer references. The peer reference pins the netdev, and dropping the last peer reference can let netdev unregistration and module removal make progress.

Do not release that peer reference before the callback has finished its own cleanup. If ovpn_crypto_key_slot_put runs after ovpn_peer_put, it can schedule an RCU callback backed by module text after ovpn_cleanup rcu_barrier has already run. The TX error path also freed the remaining skb after ovpn_peer_put, leaving callback cleanup outside the peer/netdev lifetime window.

Release the key slot and free any remaining skb first, then drop the peer reference as the last callback action.

Executive ViewAI

Why It Matters

The Linux kernel's OpenVPN data-channel offload (ovpn) module contains a use-after-free vulnerability in crypto callback lifecycle management (CVE-2026-80519, CVSS 9.8) that can corrupt kernel memory during peer or module teardown. While rated CRITICAL, exploitation requires local code execution and no public exploit has been identified; organizations operating high-performance OpenVPN gateways with this feature enabled should prioritize patching to prevent privilege escalation and system instability.

Business Impact: High
Compensating Controls

Apply vendor patch.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
0.4%
Top 63% exploitable
Prevalence
Low
ovpn in-kernel DCO driver is new (6.16+) and rarely enabled in production
Data Quality
3 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 0.4%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
CRITICAL severity
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
Yes
Human Impact
High

Priority Score

49
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: 0
CVSS: +49
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.

Vendor StatusVendor

SUSE

Severity: Important
Product Status
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 Not-Affected
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 Not-Affected

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