published September 17, 2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/sched: cls_api: fix teardown of an adopted proto on insert-race loss
In tc_new_tfilter() the create branch sets tp_created = 1 before calling
tcf_chain_tp_insert_unique(). When the caller loses the race (another
request inserted a proto at the same chain/prio first), insert_unique()
destroys the caller's own tp_new and returns the winner's proto with an
extra reference. tp_created was never cleared, so the loser's errout
path treated the winner's live proto as its own and called
tcf_chain_tp_delete_empty() on it, silently unlinking an active
classifier that the winning request already advertised via
RTM_NEWTFILTER.
Track the outcome of the insert step in a single tri-state variable so
each errout path reacts correctly:
- TP_NOT_CREATED: no proto created; pursue the old path.
- TP_CREATED: proto inserted successfully; same code path as before.
- TP_NOT_OWNED: New - lost the insert race; tp is another request's proto
(chain ref already released by tp_new's destroy)
Both errout reactions are single expressions derived from the state.
This fix is motivated by the Sashiko's automated review of Patch
(net/sched: cls_api: Always acquire rtnl_lock when destroying locked
classifiers) [1][2]. The review identified the silent-unlink behaviour of
an adopted proto's teardown when a request loses the
tcf_chain_tp_insert_unique() race.
[1] https://sashiko.dev/#/patchset/20260801125632.360365-1-jhs%40mojatatu.com
[2] https://netdev-ai.bots.linux.dev/sashiko/#/patchset/20260801125632.360365-1-jhs%40mojatatu.com