In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: ipv4: fix ARM64 alignment fault in multipath hash seed
`struct sysctl_fib_multipath_hash_seed` contains two u32 fields
(user_seed and mp_seed), making it an 8-byte structure with a 4-byte
alignment requirement.
In `fib_multipath_hash_from_keys()`, the code evaluates the entire
struct atomically via `READ_ONCE()`:
mp_seed = READ_ONCE(net->ipv4.sysctl_fib_multipath_hash_seed).mp_seed;
While this silently works on GCC by falling back to unaligned regular
loads which the ARM64 kernel tolerates, it causes a fatal kernel panic
when compiled with Clang and LTO enabled.
Commit e35123d83ee3 ("arm64: lto: Strengthen READ_ONCE() to acquire
when CONFIG_LTO=y") strengthens `READ_ONCE()` to use Load-Acquire
instructions (`ldar` / `ldapr`) to prevent compiler reordering bugs
under Clang LTO. Since the macro evaluates the full 8-byte struct,
Clang emits a 64-bit `ldar` instruction. ARM64 architecture strictly
requires `ldar` to be naturally aligned, thus executing it on a 4-byte
aligned address triggers a strict Alignment Fault (FSC = 0x21).
Fix the read side by moving the `READ_ONCE()` directly to the `u32`
member, which emits a safe 32-bit `ldar Wn`.
Furthermore, Eric Dumazet pointed out that `WRITE_ONCE()` on the entire
struct in `proc_fib_multipath_hash_set_seed()` is also flawed. Analysis
shows that Clang splits this 8-byte write into two separate 32-bit
`str` instructions. While this avoids an alignment fault, it destroys
atomicity and exposes a tear-write vulnerability. Fix this by
explicitly splitting the write into two 32-bit `WRITE_ONCE()`
operations.
Finally, add the missing `READ_ONCE()` when reading `user_seed` in
`proc_fib_multipath_hash_seed()` to ensure proper pairing and
concurrency safety.
net: ipv4: fix ARM64 alignment fault in multipath hash seed
`struct sysctl_fib_multipath_hash_seed` contains two u32 fields
(user_seed and mp_seed), making it an 8-byte structure with a 4-byte
alignment requirement.
In `fib_multipath_hash_from_keys()`, the code evaluates the entire
struct atomically via `READ_ONCE()`:
mp_seed = READ_ONCE(net->ipv4.sysctl_fib_multipath_hash_seed).mp_seed;
While this silently works on GCC by falling back to unaligned regular
loads which the ARM64 kernel tolerates, it causes a fatal kernel panic
when compiled with Clang and LTO enabled.
Commit e35123d83ee3 ("arm64: lto: Strengthen READ_ONCE() to acquire
when CONFIG_LTO=y") strengthens `READ_ONCE()` to use Load-Acquire
instructions (`ldar` / `ldapr`) to prevent compiler reordering bugs
under Clang LTO. Since the macro evaluates the full 8-byte struct,
Clang emits a 64-bit `ldar` instruction. ARM64 architecture strictly
requires `ldar` to be naturally aligned, thus executing it on a 4-byte
aligned address triggers a strict Alignment Fault (FSC = 0x21).
Fix the read side by moving the `READ_ONCE()` directly to the `u32`
member, which emits a safe 32-bit `ldar Wn`.
Furthermore, Eric Dumazet pointed out that `WRITE_ONCE()` on the entire
struct in `proc_fib_multipath_hash_set_seed()` is also flawed. Analysis
shows that Clang splits this 8-byte write into two separate 32-bit
`str` instructions. While this avoids an alignment fault, it destroys
atomicity and exposes a tear-write vulnerability. Fix this by
explicitly splitting the write into two 32-bit `WRITE_ONCE()`
operations.
Finally, add the missing `READ_ONCE()` when reading `user_seed` in
`proc_fib_multipath_hash_seed()` to ensure proper pairing and
concurrency safety.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Wed, 25 Mar 2026 10:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ipv4: fix ARM64 alignment fault in multipath hash seed `struct sysctl_fib_multipath_hash_seed` contains two u32 fields (user_seed and mp_seed), making it an 8-byte structure with a 4-byte alignment requirement. In `fib_multipath_hash_from_keys()`, the code evaluates the entire struct atomically via `READ_ONCE()`: mp_seed = READ_ONCE(net->ipv4.sysctl_fib_multipath_hash_seed).mp_seed; While this silently works on GCC by falling back to unaligned regular loads which the ARM64 kernel tolerates, it causes a fatal kernel panic when compiled with Clang and LTO enabled. Commit e35123d83ee3 ("arm64: lto: Strengthen READ_ONCE() to acquire when CONFIG_LTO=y") strengthens `READ_ONCE()` to use Load-Acquire instructions (`ldar` / `ldapr`) to prevent compiler reordering bugs under Clang LTO. Since the macro evaluates the full 8-byte struct, Clang emits a 64-bit `ldar` instruction. ARM64 architecture strictly requires `ldar` to be naturally aligned, thus executing it on a 4-byte aligned address triggers a strict Alignment Fault (FSC = 0x21). Fix the read side by moving the `READ_ONCE()` directly to the `u32` member, which emits a safe 32-bit `ldar Wn`. Furthermore, Eric Dumazet pointed out that `WRITE_ONCE()` on the entire struct in `proc_fib_multipath_hash_set_seed()` is also flawed. Analysis shows that Clang splits this 8-byte write into two separate 32-bit `str` instructions. While this avoids an alignment fault, it destroys atomicity and exposes a tear-write vulnerability. Fix this by explicitly splitting the write into two 32-bit `WRITE_ONCE()` operations. Finally, add the missing `READ_ONCE()` when reading `user_seed` in `proc_fib_multipath_hash_seed()` to ensure proper pairing and concurrency safety. | |
| Title | net: ipv4: fix ARM64 alignment fault in multipath hash seed | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-03-25T10:27:11.028Z
Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:45.995Z
Link: CVE-2026-23316
No data.
Status : Awaiting Analysis
Published: 2026-03-25T11:16:28.063
Modified: 2026-03-25T15:41:33.977
Link: CVE-2026-23316
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.