[bug report] keys: request_key_auth payload use-after-free in keyctl_instantiate_key_common()
Shaomin Chen <[email protected]> Tue, 19 May 2026 22:44:03 +0800
| Newsgroups | org.kernel.vger.keyrings,org.kernel.vger.linux-kernel,org.kernel.vger.linux-security-module |
|---|---|
| Message-ID | <[email protected]> |
Hi, keyctl_instantiate_key_common() can use a stale request_key_auth payload after the current request-key authorisation key has been revoked. The relevant code pattern is: rka = instkey->payload.data[0]; ... copy_from_iter_full(payload, plen, from); /* can fault and sleep */ ... get_instantiation_keyring(ringid, rka, &dest_keyring); key_instantiate_and_link(rka->target_key, payload, plen, dest_keyring, instkey); keyctl_instantiate_key_common() does not hold authkey->sem, an RCU read-side critical section, or a reference to the request_key_auth payload across the sleeping copy and later rka dereferences. One race sequence is: Task A: request-key helper child Task B: original request_key path ------------------------------- --------------------------------- assume request-key authority enter KEYCTL_INSTANTIATE_IOV rka = instkey->payload.data[0] block in copy_from_iter_full() helper parent instantiates target key helper returns to kernel complete_request_key(authkey, 0) key_revoke(authkey) request_key_auth_revoke(authkey) rcu_assign_keypointer(authkey, NULL) call_rcu(&rka->rcu, ...) request_key_auth_rcu_disposal() free_request_key_auth(rka) resume from copy_from_iter_full() get_instantiation_keyring(..., rka, ...) key_instantiate_and_link(rka->target_key, ...) I reproduced this on a current upstream v7.1-rc3 based tree, HEAD ab5fce87a778c, with KASAN enabled: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in keyctl_instantiate_key_common+0x1dc/0x2a0 Read of size 8 Allocated by task: request_key_auth_new+0xe0/0x4d0 Freed by task: key_revoke+0x62/0xc0 call_sbin_request_key+0x6cb/0x740 The reproducer uses a request-key helper that forks a second process with the request-key authority. The second process enters KEYCTL_INSTANTIATE_IOV and blocks in copy_from_iter_full() on a user fault after rka has been loaded. The original helper then instantiates the target key and returns, which revokes the auth key and queues the request_key_auth payload for RCU freeing. When the blocked instantiate path resumes, it dereferences the stale rka pointer. I can provide the reproducer and a candidate patch. Regards, Shaomin Chen