CVE-2026-43121

linux: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring/zcrx: fix user_ref race between scrub a...

CVE-2026-43121 is fixed in 23 products on 1 platform, first by ALAS2023-2026-1702, released May 11, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

Routine
CVSS
4.7
medium
Exploitation
None reported
No vendor assessment
CISA KEV
Not listed
Not in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
EPSS
0.0011
1st percentile

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring/zcrx: fix user_ref race between scrub and refill paths The io_zcrx_put_niov_uref() function uses a non-atomic check-then-decrement pattern (atomic_read followed by separate atomic_dec) to manipulate user_refs. This is serialized against other callers by rq_lock, but io_zcrx_scrub() modifies the same counter with atomic_xchg() WITHOUT holding rq_lock. On SMP systems, the following race exists: CPU0 (refill, holds rq_lock) CPU1 (scrub, no rq_lock) put_niov_uref: atomic_read(uref) - 1 // window opens atomic_xchg(uref, 0) - 1 return_niov_freelist(niov) [PUSH #1] // window closes atomic_dec(uref) - wraps to -1 returns true return_niov(niov) return_niov_freelist(niov) [PUSH #2: DOUBLE-FREE] The same niov is pushed to the freelist twice, causing free_count to exceed nr_iovs. Subsequent freelist pushes then perform an out-of-bounds write (a u32 value) past the kvmalloc'd freelist array into the adjacent slab object. Fix this by replacing the non-atomic read-then-dec in io_zcrx_put_niov_uref() with an atomic_try_cmpxchg loop that atomically tests and decrements user_refs. This makes the operation safe against concurrent atomic_xchg from scrub without requiring scrub to acquire rq_lock. [pavel: removed a warning and a comment]

Where it's fixed

ProductFixed inFixReleased
Linux
bpftool6.18 · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
bpftool6.18-debuginfo · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel-livepatch-6.18.16-18.222 · amzn 2023 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18 · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-debuginfo · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-aarch64 · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-debuginfo-common-x86_64 · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-devel · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-headers · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-libbpf · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-libbpf-debuginfo · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-libbpf-devel · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-libbpf-static · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-modules-extra · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-modules-extra-common · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-tools · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-tools-debuginfo · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
kernel6.18-tools-devel · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
linux · Debian 14 6.19.6-1 DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43121 May 15, 2026
perf6.18 · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
perf6.18-debuginfo · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
python3-perf6.18 · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026
python3-perf6.18-debuginfo · amzn 2023 1:6.18.16-18.222.amzn2023 ALAS2023-2026-1702 May 11, 2026

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