CVE-2026-68122

Technical Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ovpn: fix peer refcount leak in TCP error paths

When either the TCP RX or TX error path calls ovpn_peer_hold() followed

by schedule_work(&peer->tcp.defer_del_work), and the work item is already

pending from the other path, schedule_work() returns false and the work

runs only once. Since ovpn_tcp_peer_del_work() calls ovpn_peer_put()

exactly once, the extra reference taken by the losing path is never

dropped, leaking the peer object.

The race window:

CPU0 (strparser/RX error): CPU1 (tcp_tx_work/TX error):

ovpn_peer_hold() <- refcnt+1 ovpn_peer_hold() <- refcnt+2

schedule_work() <- queued schedule_work() <- NO-OP

(work already pending)

ovpn_tcp_peer_del_work runs:

ovpn_peer_del()

ovpn_peer_put() <- refcnt+1

<- peer never freed

Fix by checking the return value of schedule_work() in both paths and

calling ovp

Remediation

Check the references section for vendor advisories, patches, and mitigation guidance. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.

References