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SECURITY ANNOUNCEMENT

CVE-2026-99224

2 November 2026

keyctl_describe_key() must keep the key type's name alive until kasprintf() has consumed it. The retained key reference keeps the key and its description alive, but does not pin the module providing its type. The name is passed to kasprintf() without holding key->sem.

kvasprintf() uses the saved name pointer in two formatting passes, with a GFP_KERNEL allocation between them. With AF_RXRPC=m, a task that passes View permission before type retirement can overlap a privileged module unload in this order:

1. KEYCTL_DESCRIBE looks up the key, saves key->type->name in the kasprintf() arguments and completes the first formatting pass. 2. While the formatter is delayed before its second pass, af_rxrpc_exit() calls unregister_key_type(), which removes the type from the registry and waits for key_gc_keytype(). 3. The collector takes key->sem for writing, retypes the retained key to key_type_dead and completes retirement. Unregistration and module exit return, allowing free_module() to release the type and name. 4. The formatter resumes its second pass and reads the saved name from released module storage, which can fault in string().

Hold key->sem for reading across kasprintf(). The collector then cannot retype the key or complete retirement until both formatting passes have finished. If retirement wins the lock first, formatting uses the core key_type_dead name instead. Release the semaphore immediately after kasprintf(), including on allocation failure, before copying to userspace.

Oops report as below:

BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: fffffbfff8054794 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page RIP: 0010:string+0x23f/0x470 Call Trace: vsnprintf+0x330/0x1110

Introduced

3.18 aa9d4437893f7e015ce5b6d6c443a9ba92c8a2e7

Fixed releases

5.10.273 19c4de819e52b7f606468fbfe4fcef4e812e2777

5.15.224 a49e6c9a1a5b3457c946a8efb616ce13b4ca8194

6.1.191 916667df7695366f23cfaf365b5840b228cc4b2e

6.12.115 3c3cfd9e262afc9558c38f8cec57f09d10988546

6.18.60 6b613747f7ea309ada5b8d05b55398c338f7a968

6.6.161 dddd3a1ab7d12ee163477918ff6eb943361db4fe

7.2.14 dea367df18e3a4faac393e3a4e818ee03af89b19

7.3.1 0461bc8f91116aae4a020e15f4e1c1fd535ab35e

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