[bug report] keys: request_key_auth payload use-after-free in keyctl_instantiate_key_common()

From: Shaomin Chen

Date: Tue May 19 2026 - 10:48:56 EST


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the current request-key authorisation key has been revoked.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