What's the vulnerability?
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: sch_teql: fix use-after-free on lower qdisc drop The issue: teql_master_xmit() tests the slave's ndo_start_xmit() return value against NETDEV_TX_OK alone. A slave that consumes the skb but returns an error code (rc < NET_XMIT_MASK, e.g. NET_XMIT_DROP) is treated as if the skb were still owned, so the loop restores skb->dev and calls __skb_pull() on it. A VLAN slave returns the result of dev_queue_xmit() from its ndo_start_xmit() (propagated since cbbef5e18307), and when the lower qdisc drops the packet that value is NET_XMIT_DROP after the skb has been freed, giving a use-after-free in teql_master_xmit(). The Fix: test for consumption with dev_xmit_complete(), which accepts NETDEV_TX_OK and every rc < NET_XMIT_MASK, matching other callers that need to distinguish consumed results from busy. Only NETDEV_TX_OK keeps the packet counted in tx_packets/tx_bytes and advances the slave; a consumed result that is neither a success nor NET_XMIT_CN ends the attempt and is charged to tx_dropped, so lower-qdisc drops are no longer reported as good transmits. NET_XMIT_CN is counted like success because it can accompany acceptance of the current packet: pfifo_head_drop drops the old head, enqueues the current skb and returns NET_XMIT_CN. Conditions to recreate the bug: With CONFIG_NET_SCH_TEQL, CONFIG_VLAN_8021Q and CONFIG_DUMMY enabled, add lkrdummy0 (dummy) and lkrvlan0 (VLAN id 37 on lkrdummy0); set a pfifo limit 0 root on lkrdummy0 and a teql0 root on lkrvlan0; bring teql0 up with an address and send one UDP packet to it. The VLAN xmit returns NET_XMIT_DROP from the lower qdisc while holding a freed skb.
Business impact & how R4IM helps
This advisory is on our active-exploitation watchlist. Attackers are using it for initial access, privilege escalation or lateral movement in real-world intrusions. R4IM's offensive security and SOC teams already have detections, exploit replicas and remediation playbooks for this issue.
Targeted vulnerability assessment to confirm which of your assets are actually exploitable — not just theoretically affected.
Our pentesters chain this CVE into realistic attack paths so you see business impact, not just a scan finding.
If the affected product is internet-facing, our AppSec team will harden it against this and related OWASP-class issues.
Continuous monitoring with custom detections for this CVE deployed across your endpoints, identity and cloud.
Recommended remediation
- Inventory all assets running the affected vendor and product, including shadow IT and third-party hosted instances.
- Apply the vendor patch or mitigation referenced in the advisories below. Where no patch exists, isolate the asset or restrict network exposure.
- Hunt for indicators of prior compromise — exploitation of this class of bug often predates public disclosure.
- Deploy detections for the exploit primitives (network signature, EDR rule, WAF rule) and re-test after remediation.
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Vendor & research references
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2702ae318630787c640ec0d0403ffd9d95c43e9e · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/782d6bb8f9b8e9d8591181662222bf74cd3ecf79 · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fc55d92ae6a4b2e7d062cad6d4c67f6b061d9cde · 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
