CVE-2026-89565: ipip: fix skb leak in collect_md mode when metadata_dst allocation fails

Severity: unknown
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.2% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-09-11 · updated 2026-10-19

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipip: fix skb leak in collect_md mode when metadata_dst allocation fails In collect_md mode ipip_tunnel_rcv() returns 0 without freeing the skb when ip_tun_rx_dst() fails to allocate the metadata_dst. ipip_rcv() and mplsip_rcv() are registered as xfrm_tunnel handlers, so tunnel4_rcv() and tunnelmpls4_rcv() read the zero return as "the packet has been consumed" and do not free it either. The skb is leaked. The other tunnel drivers all dispose of the packet at this point: ip6_tunnel.c jumps to its drop label, ip_gre.c and ip6_gre.c return PACKET_REJECT, which makes gre_rcv() free the skb. Only ipip returns 0. Jump to the existing drop label instead. It frees the skb and still returns 0, so the packet keeps being reported as consumed, which is what we want here: the outer header has already been pulled, and neither the remaining handlers nor an ICMP unreachable have any use for it. Triggering this needs an ipip or mplsip tunnel in collect_md mode and an atomic allocation failure, which is why it has gone unnoticed.

Affected products

Linux kernel: 4.9 — fixed in 7.3

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 7.3. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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