CVE-2026-63979Patch

LOWCVSS 9.8 · CRITICAL

Signal is active with 1 mentions in latest observed window

Immediate actions

  • Patch affected systems immediately

Recommended action window: Monitor and triage in normal cycle

NVD description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/handshake: hand off the pinned file reference to accept_doit handshake_req_next() removes the request from the per-net pending list and drops hn_lock before handshake_nl_accept_doit() reads req->hr_sk->sk_socket and dereferences sock->file (once in FD_PREPARE() and again in get_file()). In that window a consumer running tls_handshake_cancel() followed by sockfd_put() (svc_sock_free) or __fput_sync() (xs_reset_transport) releases sock->file. sock_release() then runs sock_orphan(), zeroing sk_socket, and frees the struct socket. The accept-side code either reads NULL through sk_socket or chases freed memory. The submit-side sock_hold() does not prevent this. sk_refcnt protects struct sock, but struct socket and sock->file are independently refcounted via the file descriptor the consumer owns. Pinning sk leaves sock and sock->file unprotected. Retarget the accept-side dereferences at req->hr_file, which was pinned at submit time, instead of req->hr_sk->sk_socket->file. Pinning on its own is not sufficient: a consumer that cancels between handshake_req_next() returning and accept_doit reaching FD_PREPARE() takes the !remove_pending() branch in handshake_req_cancel() and drops hr_file before the accept side takes its own reference. Hand off an additional file reference inside handshake_req_next(), under hn_lock, so the accept side operates on a reference that no concurrent handshake_req_cancel() can revoke. FD_PREPARE() consumes that handed-off reference, either by transferring it to the new fd in fd_publish() or by dropping it in the cleanup destructor on error; the explicit get_file() that previously balanced FD_PREPARE() is therefore redundant and goes away. Update handshake_req_cancel_test2 and _test3 to simulate the FD_PREPARE() consumption with an fput() so the kunit file-count assertions stay balanced.

0.5/ 10 priority

Sources & remediation

Weakness type (CWE)
CWE-416

Priority

LOW

Exploitation

NONE

PoC

NONE

Patch

AVAILABLE

Momentum

NONE

Threat summary

  • Patch or workaround signal is available
  • 1 mentions across 1 observed day

What's happening

  • Patch or workaround mentioned in 1 signal
  • Technical details provided in 1 signal
  • 1 total mentions across 1 day

Deep dive

Activity timeline1 mentions / 1d
00111Mentions · 2026-07-21: 1Patch / Workaround · 2026-07-21: 1Technical Details · 2026-07-21: 107-21
Signal classification1 categories
Patch
1100.0%
Referenced assets1 URL
Full discourse1 post
  • Windows Forum@windowsforum
    Patch

    🔒 Linux patched CVE-2026-63979, where a TLS handshake race could turn a socket’s disappearing act into a NULL dereference or use-after-free. Secure by design meets “mind the lifetime.” https://windowsforum.com/threads/cve-2026-63979-fixes-critical-linux-kernel-tls-socket-race.439808/?utm_source=x&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=news_node84 #LinuxSecurity #TlsHandshake #KernelVulnerabilities #Cve202663979 https://t.co/9elgAz5m59

    Post summary

    The tweet informs that Linux has patched CVE‑2026‑63979, a TLS handshake race leading to a NULL dereference or use‑after‑free. No PoC, exploit code, or active exploitation is reported.

    0000045
    1.3K followersView on X

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