CVE-2026-68441: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: Handle TC_ACT_REDIRECT from qdisc filter chains When a TC filter atta...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: Handle TC_ACT_REDIRECT from qdisc filter chains When a TC filter attached to a qdisc filter chain returns TC_ACT_REDIRECT (ex: via an eBPF program calling bpf_redirect() or an act_bpf action), the redirect was silently lost i.e no qdisc classify function handled TC_ACT_REDIRECT, so the packet fell through the switch and was enqueued normally instead of being redirected. This has been broken since bpf_redirect() was introduced for TC in commit 27b29f63058d ("bpf: add bpf_redirect() helper"). We got lucky for a long time because bpf_net_context was a per-CPU variable that was always available. commit 401cb7dae813 ("net: Reference bpf_redirect_info via task_struct on PREEMPT_RT.") turned bpf_net_context into a task_struct member that is only set up by explicit callers. Without a caller setting it up, bpf_redirect() itself crashes with a NULL pointer dereference in bpf_net_ctx_get_ri(). However, even with bpf_net_context available, TC_ACT_REDIRECT from qdisc filter chains cannot be honored without adding skb_do_redirect() calls to every qdisc classify function, which would require changes across net/sched/. Isolate it to ebpf core where it belongs. Instead, add a tcf_classify_qdisc() inline helper in pkt_cls.h, as a wrapper around tcf_classify() for use by qdisc classify functions and tcf_qevent_handle(). When the classify verdict is TC_ACT_REDIRECT, the wrapper converts it to TC_ACT_SHOT, dropping the packet rather than letting it continue silently. Dropping is preferred over letting the packet through because the user immediately sees packet loss. Silently passing the packet through would hide the problem and leave the user wondering why their redirect is not working. The clsact fast path, tc_run() continues to call tcf_classify() directly and is unaffected: TC_ACT_REDIRECT is returned as-is and handled by sch_handle_egress/ingress() calling skb_do_redirect() as before.

Affected Software

Source: CNA advisory (CVE.org). NVD analysis pending.

Vendor	Product	Versions
Linux	Linux	>= 27b29f63058d26c6c1742f1993338280d5a41dc6, < c8fd74445e86f88096d2f6cf0f9e4d54d8ed1781; >= 27b29f63058d26c6c1742f1993338280d5a41dc6, < ec48b3be2c8595dd290be883dbd4fb8b2f9f5d5e
Linux	Linux	4.4

References

Timeline

Published: Aug 12, 2026
Last Modified: Aug 12, 2026
Status: Received

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-68441?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: Handle TC_ACT_REDIRECT from qdisc filter chains When a TC filter attached to a qdisc filter chain returns TC_ACT_REDIRECT (ex: via an eBPF program calling bpf_redirect() or an act_bpf action), the redirect was silently lost i.e no qdisc classify function handled TC_ACT_REDIRECT, so the packet fell through the switch and was enqueued normally instead of being redirected. This has been broken since bpf_redirect() was introduced for TC in commit 27b29f63058d ("bpf: add bpf_redirect() helper"). We got lucky for a long time because bpf_net_context was a per-CPU variable that was always available. commit 401cb7dae813 ("net: Reference bpf_redirect_info via task_struct on PREEMPT_RT.") turned bpf_net_context into a task_struct member that is only set up by explicit callers. Without a caller setting it up, bpf_redirect() itself crashes with a NULL pointer dereference in bpf_net_ctx_get_ri(). However, even with bpf_net_context available, TC_ACT_REDIRECT from qdisc filter chains cannot be honored without adding skb_do_redirect() calls to every qdisc classify function, which would require changes across net/sched/. Isolate it to ebpf core where it belongs. Instead, add a tcf_classify_qdisc() inline helper in pkt_cls.h, as a wrapper around tcf_classify() for use by qdisc classify functions and tcf_qevent_handle(). When the classify verdict is TC_ACT_REDIRECT, the wrapper converts it to TC_ACT_SHOT, dropping the packet rather than letting it continue silently. Dropping is preferred over letting the packet through because the user immediately sees packet loss. Silently passing the packet through would hide the problem and leave the user wondering why their redirect is not working. The clsact fast path, tc_run() continues to call tcf_classify() directly and is unaffected: TC_ACT_REDIRECT is returned as-is and handled by sch_handle_egress/ingress() calling skb_do_redirect() as before.

How severe is CVE-2026-68441?

Severity scoring for CVE-2026-68441 is pending analysis.

How do I fix CVE-2026-68441?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.

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