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CVE Record

CVE-2026-74628: net/x25: fix use-after-free of the socket by its timers

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/x25: fix use-after-free of the socket by its timers The x25 timers are armed with mod_timer() and cancelled with timer_delete(), so a pending timer holds no reference on the socket and a cancel does not wait for a callback already running on another CPU. x25_heartbeat_expiry() also rearms unconditionally, so it can reinstall sk->sk_timer after __x25_destroy_socket() has passed its cancel point. The following __sock_put() frees the socket while the timer is still queued, and the next expiry uses freed memory. KASAN reports a slab-use-after-free on the kmalloc-2k object freed by close(). timer_delete_sync() cannot be used here: x25_heartbeat_expiry() and x25_timer_expiry() both reach the cancels from inside the timer they would wait on, through __x25_destroy_socket() and x25_disconnect(). Arm the timers with sk_reset_timer() and cancel them with sk_stop_timer() so that an armed timer owns a reference, and release it in both expiry handlers. Rearm the heartbeat only while sk_hashed(sk) is still true, since __x25_destroy_socket() unlinks the socket before dropping it. Arm the deferred destroy timer the same way and drop its reference in x25_destroy_timer(). Reproduced on net with KASAN, with the heartbeat period shortened so the window recurs. With this patch the reproducer no longer triggers a report and /proc/net/x25 drains. Discovered by XBOW, triaged by Baul Lee <baul.lee@xbow.com>

CriticalCVSS 9.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysiscritical

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

A Linux X.25 networking timer can access a socket after it has been freed, potentially causing crashes or memory corruption. The supplied 9.8 score indicates severe theoretical impact, but practical exposure depends on whether the system uses the affected X.25 kernel functionality.

Executive priority

Treat this as urgent for systems using X.25 and promptly confirm exposure elsewhere. The maximum impact is critical, but the bundle does not prove broad default exposure or active attacks. Patch confirmed affected systems through supported distribution channels after compatibility testing.

Technical view

A race between socket destruction and asynchronous X.25 timer callbacks creates a use-after-free. Pending timers lacked socket references, cancellation did not await callbacks on other CPUs, and the heartbeat could rearm after unlinking. The fix uses reference-owning socket timer helpers, releases references during expiry, and prevents heartbeat rearming after socket removal.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on Linux hosts where X.25 networking is present and exercised. The supplied affected-version data is ambiguous and includes apparent release and commit identifiers, so exact exposure should be established using the running distribution kernel build and referenced stable fixes.

Exploitation context

The bundle reports no CISA KEV listing and provides no evidence of active exploitation. The flaw was reproduced with KASAN after shortening the heartbeat period, demonstrating the memory-safety defect but not establishing real-world weaponization or reliable remote compromise.

Researcher notes

The failure is a cross-CPU timer-lifetime race involving x25_heartbeat_expiry, x25_timer_expiry, x25_destroy_timer, and socket teardown. The patch replaces raw timer operations with socket reference-aware helpers. Exact vulnerable release ranges and exploitability prerequisites cannot be resolved confidently from the flattened version data supplied.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable referenced stable fix.
  • Consult the Linux distribution advisory to map package versions to fixed commits.
  • Where operationally acceptable, disable unused X.25 functionality until the kernel is updated.
  • Prioritize externally reachable or untrusted systems that actively use X.25 networking.

Validation and detection

  • Record each host's running kernel and distribution package version.
  • Determine whether X.25 kernel functionality is configured, loaded, or operationally required.
  • Compare kernel builds with vendor guidance and the referenced stable commits.
  • After updating, verify the fixed kernel is running following reboot.
  • Review kernel logs for crashes or memory-safety reports involving X.25 timers.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
10

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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CVE-2026-74628 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Critical
CVSS
9.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
9.8CVSS 3.1CriticalCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H3.95.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

9.8Critical
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-74628Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2, 1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2unaffected
LinuxLinux2.6.12, 0, 5.10.267, 5.15.217, 6.1.184, 6.6.153, 6.12.105, 6.18.45, 7.1.9, 7.2affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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