CVE-2026-43456: bonding: fix type confusion in bond_setup_by_slave()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bonding: fix type confusion in bond_setup_by_slave()
kernel BUG at net/core/skbuff.c:2306!
Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI
RIP: 0010:pskb_expand_head+0xa08/0xfe0 net/core/skbuff.c:2306
RSP: 0018:ffffc90004aff760 EFLAGS: 00010293
RAX: 0000000000000000 RBX: ffff88807e3c8780 RCX: ffffffff89593e0e
RDX: ffff88807b7c4900 RSI: ffffffff89594747 RDI: ffff88807b7c4900
RBP: 0000000000000820 R08: 0000000000000005 R09: 0000000000000000
R10: 00000000961a63e0 R11: 0000000000000000 R12: ffff88807e3c8780
R13: 00000000961a6560 R14: dffffc0000000000 R15: 00000000961a63e0
CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 00007fe1a0ed8df0 CR3: 000000002d816000 CR4: 00000000003526f0
Call Trace:
<TASK>
ipgre_header+0xdd/0x540 net/ipv4/ip_gre.c:900
dev_hard_header include/linux/netdevice.h:3439 [inline]
packet_snd net/packet/af_packet.c:3028 [inline]
packet_sendmsg+0x3ae5/0x53c0 net/packet/af_packet.c:3108
sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:727 [inline]
__sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:742 [inline]
____sys_sendmsg+0xa54/0xc30 net/socket.c:2592
___sys_sendmsg+0x190/0x1e0 net/socket.c:2646
__sys_sendmsg+0x170/0x220 net/socket.c:2678
do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:63 [inline]
do_syscall_64+0x106/0xf80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f
RIP: 0033:0x7fe1a0e6c1a9
When a non-Ethernet device (e.g. GRE tunnel) is enslaved to a bond,
bond_setup_by_slave() directly copies the slave's header_ops to the
bond device:
bond_dev->header_ops = slave_dev->header_ops;
This causes a type confusion when dev_hard_header() is later called
on the bond device. Functions like ipgre_header(), ip6gre_header(),all use
netdev_priv(dev) to access their device-specific private data. When
called with the bond device, netdev_priv() returns the bond's private
data (struct bonding) instead of the expected type (e.g. struct
ip_tunnel), leading to garbage values being read and kernel crashes.
Fix this by introducing bond_header_ops with wrapper functions that
delegate to the active slave's header_ops using the slave's own
device. This ensures netdev_priv() in the slave's header functions
always receives the correct device.
The fix is placed in the bonding driver rather than individual device
drivers, as the root cause is bond blindly inheriting header_ops from
the slave without considering that these callbacks expect a specific
netdev_priv() layout.
The type confusion can be observed by adding a printk in
ipgre_header() and running the following commands:
ip link add dummy0 type dummy
ip addr add 10.0.0.1/24 dev dummy0
ip link set dummy0 up
ip link add gre1 type gre local 10.0.0.1
ip link add bond1 type bond mode active-backup
ip link set gre1 master bond1
ip link set gre1 up
ip link set bond1 up
ip addr add fe80::1/64 dev bond1
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux networking flaw can crash the kernel when a bond inherits networking callbacks from a non-Ethernet member such as a GRE tunnel. The callback then interprets bonding data as tunnel data. A successful trigger could disrupt affected hosts; the supplied evidence demonstrates crashes, not data theft or code execution.
Executive priority
Prioritize patching hosts that combine bonding with tunnel or other non-Ethernet devices, especially where local users can interact with networking. Treat broader fleets as an expedited verification task rather than an emergency compromise response because active exploitation is not supported by the supplied evidence.
Technical view
bond_setup_by_slave() copied a slave device’s header_ops directly onto the bond. Header callbacks such as ipgre_header() consequently received the bond device and treated struct bonding as struct ip_tunnel, causing type confusion, invalid values, and kernel failure. The stable fixes introduce bonding wrappers that call the active slave’s header operations with the correct device object.
Likely exposure
Exposure is concentrated on Linux systems using bonding with non-Ethernet slave devices, including GRE tunnels. The CVSS vector describes local, low-privilege access without user interaction, but the supplied sources do not fully establish the configuration or privilege prerequisites. Ordinary Ethernet-only bonds are not identified as affected by the described path.
Exploitation context
CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources provide no evidence of active exploitation or a public weaponized exploit. The documented reproduction establishes a reachable kernel-crash condition under a specific network configuration. Confidentiality and integrity impacts appear in the CVSS vector, but are not demonstrated in the technical description.
Researcher notes
The supplied version metadata is difficult to interpret: it lists several branch endpoints and repeats an apparent commit identifier. Validate exposure by distribution backport status and the five stable fixes. The demonstrated impact is a KASAN-observed kernel crash caused by private-structure confusion. The sources do not establish controlled memory corruption, privilege escalation, or remote reachability.
Mitigation direction
Apply a vendor kernel update containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
Map distribution kernel packages to fixed commits rather than relying only on upstream version numbers.
Pending updates, avoid bonding non-Ethernet devices where operationally feasible.
Consult the Linux distribution’s security guidance for supported packages and reboot requirements.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux kernel versions and distribution package revisions across potentially exposed systems.
Identify bonds containing GRE or other non-Ethernet slave devices.
Verify the installed kernel includes the applicable referenced stable commit.
Review kernel logs for pskb_expand_head BUG, invalid opcode, or related bonding crashes.
After updating, confirm the intended fixed kernel is running.
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
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