RE: [PATCH] net: qualcomm: rmnet: require real-netns admin for bridging

From: subash.a.kasiviswanathan

Date: Sat Aug 22 2026 - 17:27:47 EST


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jérémy Jean <Jeremy.Jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, August 21, 2026 2:29 PM
> To: Subash Abhinov Kasiviswanathan
> <subash.a.kasiviswanathan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>; Sean Tranchetti
> <sean.tranchetti@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Cc: netdev@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; linux-kernel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx; Jérémy Jean
> <Jeremy.Jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [PATCH] net: qualcomm: rmnet: require real-netns admin for bridging
>
> An rmnet device remains linked to its real device after it is moved to a different
> network namespace. When it is used as a master, rmnet_add_bridge() follows
> that pointer and switches the real device's port to bridge mode.
>
> The rtnetlink master operation only requires CAP_NET_ADMIN in the
> namespace holding the visible rmnet and slave devices. A caller privileged only
> there can therefore bridge an attacker-controlled interface to the real device in
> another namespace, receiving and transmitting raw traffic across the
> namespace boundary.
>
> Require CAP_NET_ADMIN in the network namespace of the real device before
> configuring the bridge.
>
> Fixes: 60d58f971c10 ("net: qualcomm: rmnet: Implement bridge mode")
> Assisted-by: Codex:gpt-5
> Signed-off-by: Jérémy Jean <Jeremy.Jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> ---
> drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c | 8 ++++++++
> 1 file changed, 8 insertions(+)
>
> diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
> b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
> index bed6f63facf2..45e6c16a5a70 100644
> --- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
> +++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
> @@ -441,6 +441,14 @@ int rmnet_add_bridge(struct net_device
> *rmnet_dev,
> struct rmnet_port *port, *slave_port;
> int err;
>
> + /*
> + * The rtnl path only checks CAP_NET_ADMIN against
> dev_net(rmnet_dev),
> + * but bridge mode below controls real_dev, which may live in another
> + * netns.
> + */
> + if (!rtnl_dev_link_net_capable(rmnet_dev, dev_net(real_dev)))
> + return -EPERM;
> +
> port = rmnet_get_port_rtnl(real_dev);
>
> /* If there is more than one rmnet dev attached, its probably being

I believe the bridge tear down path might need a similar check. I've also added a minor update to account for the expected comment style.

diff --git a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
index bed6f63facf2..0f9734a40ed0 100644
--- a/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
+++ b/drivers/net/ethernet/qualcomm/rmnet/rmnet_config.c
@@ -441,6 +441,13 @@ int rmnet_add_bridge(struct net_device *rmnet_dev,
struct rmnet_port *port, *slave_port;
int err;

+ /* The rtnl path only checks CAP_NET_ADMIN against dev_net(rmnet_dev),
+ * but bridge mode below controls real_dev, which may live in another
+ * netns.
+ */
+ if (!rtnl_dev_link_net_capable(rmnet_dev, dev_net(real_dev)))
+ return -EPERM;
+
port = rmnet_get_port_rtnl(real_dev);

/* If there is more than one rmnet dev attached, its probably being
@@ -489,7 +496,19 @@ int rmnet_add_bridge(struct net_device *rmnet_dev,
int rmnet_del_bridge(struct net_device *rmnet_dev,
struct net_device *slave_dev)
{
- struct rmnet_port *port = rmnet_get_port_rtnl(slave_dev);
+ struct rmnet_priv *priv = netdev_priv(rmnet_dev);
+ struct net_device *real_dev = priv->real_dev;
+ struct rmnet_port *port;
+
+ /* Similar to rmnet_add_bridge(), the rtnl path only checks
+ * for CAP_NET_ADMIN against dev_net(slave_dev), but tearing
+ * down the bridge below updates the real_dev's port state,
+ * which may live in another netns.
+ */
+ if (!rtnl_dev_link_net_capable(rmnet_dev, dev_net(real_dev)))
+ return -EPERM;
+
+ port = rmnet_get_port_rtnl(slave_dev);

rmnet_unregister_bridge(port);