Re: Re: [PATCH v2] ipv6: fix memory leak in __ip6_make_skb() when queue is empty

From: syzbot

Date: Thu Apr 23 2026 - 23:19:16 EST


> Hi,
>
> Thank you so much for the review and for pointing me to the correct Fixes tag!
>
> You hit the nail on the head regarding `__ip6_append_data()`. After re-evaluating the code path based on your question, I realize my assumption in v2 was incorrect. `__ip6_append_data()` does indeed guarantee that an skb is queued upon success, making the `skb == NULL` path dead code in this context.
>
> I traced the `failslab` memory leak back to its true origin: the lockless fast path wrapper `ip6_make_skb()`.
>
> Sabrina previously noted that `ip6_setup_cork()` failures correctly release the dst. That is absolutely true for the slow path, where `udp_v6_flush_pending_frames()` eventually handles the cleanup.
>
> However, in the fast path, `ip6_make_skb()` calls `ip6_setup_cork()`. Inside `ip6_setup_cork()`, `cork->base.dst` is assigned early. If a subsequent memory allocation fails (e.g., `v6_cork->opt = kzalloc(...)` failing due to failslab), it returns an error. `ip6_make_skb()` then directly returns `ERR_PTR(err)` WITHOUT calling `ip6_cork_release(cork)`.
>
> Since `udpv6_sendmsg()` assumes the `dst` reference is stolen by `ip6_make_skb()` and unconditionally jumps to `out_no_dst`, the `dst` is completely leaked.
>
> The fix is simply to add `ip6_cork_release(cork)` in the `ip6_setup_cork()` error path inside `ip6_make_skb()`.
>
> I will submit a v3 patch shortly addressing this true root cause and using your suggested Fixes tag. Thank you again for steering me in the exact right direction!
>
> Best regards,
> Mingyu Wang
>
>
>> -----原始邮件-----
>> 发件人: "Willem de Bruijn" <willemdebruijn.kernel@xxxxxxxxx>
>> 发送时间:2026-04-23 22:59:45 (星期四)
>> 收件人: "Mingyu Wang" <25181214217@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, willemdebruijn.kernel@xxxxxxxxx, davem@xxxxxxxxxxxxx, dsahern@xxxxxxxxxx, edumazet@xxxxxxxxxx, kuba@xxxxxxxxxx, pabeni@xxxxxxxxxx
>> 抄送: sd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, horms@xxxxxxxxxx, netdev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, linux-kernel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, "Mingyu Wang" <25181214217@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, syzbot+e5d6936b9f4545fd88ab@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> 主题: Re: [PATCH v2] ipv6: fix memory leak in __ip6_make_skb() when queue is empty
>>
>> Mingyu Wang wrote:
>> > During fuzzing with failslab enabled, a memory leak was observed in the
>> > IPv6 UDP send path.
>> >
>> > The root cause resides in __ip6_make_skb(). In extremely rare cases
>> > (such as fault injection or specific empty payload conditions),
>>
>> Can you elaborate on this? Which fault injection lets
>> __ip6_append_data succeed without writing data?
>>
>> > __ip6_append_data() may succeed but leave the socket's write queue
>> > empty.
>> >
>> > When __ip6_make_skb() is subsequently called, __skb_dequeue(queue)
>> > returns NULL. The previous logic handled this by executing a 'goto out;',
>> > which completely bypassed the call to ip6_cork_release(cork).
>> >
>> > Since the 'cork' structure actively holds a reference to the routing
>> > entry (dst_entry) and potentially other allocated options, skipping
>> > the release cleanly leaks these resources.
>> >
>> > Fix this by introducing an 'out_cork_release' label and jumping to it
>> > when skb is NULL, ensuring the cork state is always properly cleaned up.
>> > The now-unused 'out' label is also removed to prevent compiler warnings.
>> >
>> > Fixes: 1da177e4c3f4 ("Linux-2.6.12-rc2")
>>
>> I think this is
>>
>> Fixes: 6422398c2ab0 ("ipv6: introduce ipv6_make_skb")
>>
>> > Reported-by: syzbot+e5d6936b9f4545fd88ab@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> > Signed-off-by: Mingyu Wang <25181214217@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

I see the command but can't find the corresponding bug.
The email is sent to syzbot+HASH@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx address
but the HASH does not correspond to any known bug.
Please double check the address.