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CVE-2026-72136 (GCVE-0-2026-72136)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-15 05:53 – Updated: 2026-08-17 05:40
VLAI
Title
xfrm: xfrm_interface: require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the device netns for changelink
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: xfrm_interface: require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the device netns for changelink xfrmi_changelink() operates on at most two netns, dev_net(dev) and the interface link netns xi->net. They differ once the device is created in or moved to a netns other than the one the request runs in. The rtnl changelink path checks CAP_NET_ADMIN only against dev_net(dev), so a caller privileged there but not in xi->net can rewrite an interface that lives in xi->net. Gate xfrmi_changelink() on rtnl_dev_link_net_capable() at its top, before any attribute is parsed.
Severity
8.8 (High)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
Linux Linux Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < 04c1aa57d08471b1953bf27c84ac9b3d78d71831 (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < bdfd1c21d90e628a58a9de79e024cdfcbedfa15c (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < 80ec68bba11f7f387c0e4099c2d7b2c84943eb99 (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < e9c90756f10da334fb31552e52c61f1dba69f491 (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < 37b61946d278c7deb0d40ba8f2b6fc0478d61dab (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < 8ca2a19a987a7d1cb4c916ed9723a1c6993b4276 (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < 3ba2b2ef7d6a63b190f15cfc2b4ba0fba59928ea (git)
Affected: f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e , < 095515d89b19b6cc19dfcdc846f97403ed1ebce3 (git)
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Linux Linux Affected: 4.19
Unaffected: 0 , < 4.19 (semver)
Unaffected: 5.10.261 , ≤ 5.10.* (semver)
Unaffected: 5.15.212 , ≤ 5.15.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.1.178 , ≤ 6.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.6.145 , ≤ 6.6.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.12.97 , ≤ 6.12.* (semver)
Unaffected: 6.18.40 , ≤ 6.18.* (semver)
Unaffected: 7.1.5 , ≤ 7.1.* (semver)
Unaffected: 7.2 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix)
guessed Create a notification for this product.
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              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
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      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\nxfrm: xfrm_interface: require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the device netns for changelink\n\nxfrmi_changelink() operates on at most two netns, dev_net(dev) and the\ninterface link netns xi-\u003enet. They differ once the device is created in\nor moved to a netns other than the one the request runs in. The rtnl\nchangelink path checks CAP_NET_ADMIN only against dev_net(dev), so a\ncaller privileged there but not in xi-\u003enet can rewrite an interface that\nlives in xi-\u003enet.\n\nGate xfrmi_changelink() on rtnl_dev_link_net_capable() at its top,\nbefore any attribute is parsed."
        }
      ],
      "metrics": [
        {
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            "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
            "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
            "version": "3.1"
          },
          "scenarios": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "AV:L - Exploitation requires a local RTM_NEWLINK changelink over an rtnetlink/netlink socket (rtnl_newlink \u2192 rtnl_changelink \u2192 xfrmi_changelink); this is a netlink configuration path, not remote packet handling, matching kernel Local guidance.\nAC:L - Once a cross-namespace xfrmi exists (dev_net(dev) \u2260 xi-\u003enet via IFLA_LINK_NETNSID creation or netns migration), bypassing the missing check is one deterministic changelink with attacker-chosen IFLA_XFRM_IF_ID; no race, timing, or layout dependency.\nPR:L - rtnl_link_get_net_capable() only requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in dev_net(dev), obtainable by an unprivileged user via user+network namespaces (unshare -Urn / map-root-user); CAP_NET_ADMIN in the sticky link netns xi-\u003enet is not required.\nUI:N - The attack is fully programmatic from the attacker\u0027s own process through netlink; no victim action such as mounting a filesystem, opening a file, or clicking is required.\nS:C - Privilege is checked against dev_net(dev) while xfrmi_changelink/xfrmi_update mutate live xfrm interface state in xi-\u003enet (hash unlink/relink, if_id binding), crossing from the attacker\u0027s net/user namespace into another tenant\u0027s or the host network namespace.\nC:H - Changing IFLA_XFRM_IF_ID in xi-\u003enet retargets xfrmi_lookup/xfrm_lookup_with_ifid so host IPsec SAs can deliver decrypted VPN cleartext to the attacker-controlled netdev in dev_net(dev), exposing confidential tunneled traffic.\nI:H - Unauthorized changelink rewrites live xfrm interface parameters and xi-\u003enet registration, enabling redirection or injection of IPsec encapsulation/decapsulation paths on Internet-facing VPN gateways and cloud IPsec endpoints.\nA:H - xfrmi_update() runs synchronize_net() and netdev_state_change(); breaking or rebinding if_id mapping disrupts production IPsec/VTI/xfrmi VPN paths, causing sustained loss of encrypted tunnel connectivity."
            }
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        "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T05:40:46.616Z",
        "orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
        "shortName": "Linux"
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      "title": "xfrm: xfrm_interface: require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the device netns for changelink",
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    "datePublished": "2026-08-15T05:53:11.072Z",
    "dateReserved": "2026-08-09T03:40:39.908Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2026-08-17T05:40:46.616Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
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The rtnl\\nchangelink path checks CAP_NET_ADMIN only against dev_net(dev), so a\\ncaller privileged there but not in xi-\u003enet can rewrite an interface that\\nlives in xi-\u003enet.\\n\\nGate xfrmi_changelink() on rtnl_dev_link_net_capable() at its top,\\nbefore any attribute is parsed.\"}],\"affected\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"affectedData\":[{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"unaffected\",\"programFiles\":[\"net/xfrm/xfrm_interface_core.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"04c1aa57d08471b1953bf27c84ac9b3d78d71831\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"bdfd1c21d90e628a58a9de79e024cdfcbedfa15c\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"80ec68bba11f7f387c0e4099c2d7b2c84943eb99\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"e9c90756f10da334fb31552e52c61f1dba69f491\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"37b61946d278c7deb0d40ba8f2b6fc0478d61dab\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"8ca2a19a987a7d1cb4c916ed9723a1c6993b4276\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"3ba2b2ef7d6a63b190f15cfc2b4ba0fba59928ea\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"f203b76d78092faf248db3f851840fbecf80b40e\",\"lessThan\":\"095515d89b19b6cc19dfcdc846f97403ed1ebce3\",\"versionType\":\"git\",\"status\":\"affected\"}]},{\"vendor\":\"Linux\",\"product\":\"Linux\",\"defaultStatus\":\"affected\",\"programFiles\":[\"net/xfrm/xfrm_interface_core.c\"],\"repo\":\"https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git\",\"versions\":[{\"version\":\"4.19\",\"status\":\"affected\"},{\"version\":\"0\",\"lessThan\":\"4.19\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"5.10.261\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"5.10.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"5.15.212\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"5.15.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.1.178\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.1.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.6.145\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.6.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.12.97\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.12.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"6.18.40\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"6.18.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"7.1.5\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"7.1.*\",\"versionType\":\"semver\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"},{\"version\":\"7.2\",\"lessThanOrEqual\":\"*\",\"versionType\":\"original_commit_for_fix\",\"status\":\"unaffected\"}]}]}],\"metrics\":{\"cvssMetricV31\":[{\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\",\"type\":\"Secondary\",\"cvssData\":{\"version\":\"3.1\",\"vectorString\":\"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H\",\"baseScore\":8.8,\"baseSeverity\":\"HIGH\",\"attackVector\":\"LOCAL\",\"attackComplexity\":\"LOW\",\"privilegesRequired\":\"LOW\",\"userInteraction\":\"NONE\",\"scope\":\"CHANGED\",\"confidentialityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"integrityImpact\":\"HIGH\",\"availabilityImpact\":\"HIGH\"},\"exploitabilityScore\":2.0,\"impactScore\":6.0}]},\"references\":[{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/04c1aa57d08471b1953bf27c84ac9b3d78d71831\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/095515d89b19b6cc19dfcdc846f97403ed1ebce3\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/37b61946d278c7deb0d40ba8f2b6fc0478d61dab\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3ba2b2ef7d6a63b190f15cfc2b4ba0fba59928ea\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/80ec68bba11f7f387c0e4099c2d7b2c84943eb99\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ca2a19a987a7d1cb4c916ed9723a1c6993b4276\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/bdfd1c21d90e628a58a9de79e024cdfcbedfa15c\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"},{\"url\":\"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e9c90756f10da334fb31552e52c61f1dba69f491\",\"source\":\"416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67\"}]}}",
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2026-08-17T23:41:50+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2026-72136",
      "id": "CVE-2026-72136",
      "initial_release_date": "2026-08-15T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_affected": "184",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "90",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "kernel: xfrm: xfrm_interface: require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the device netns for changelink",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72136.json",
      "version": "3"
    }
  }
}



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Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

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Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
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  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


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