Findings

Security research · CVE-2020-36789

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb

Published Apr 17, 2025 · corrected/updated May 11, 2026 · Linux Linux · evidence confidence high

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/core/skbuff.c#skb_release_head_state() might be triggered, under network congestion circumstances, together with the potential risk of a NULL pointer dereference. The root cause of this issue is the call to kfree_skb() instead of dev_kfree_skb_irq() in net/core/dev.c#enqueue_to_backlog(). This patch prevents the skb to b

Grounded briefings

Catalog interpretations for three audiences. Each brief cites ingested metadata and the original advisories below. They are not independent research and they do not invent exploit steps.

Executive

CVE-2020-36789 is a medium public vulnerability record for Linux Linux. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. This summary is a catalog interpretation of the ingested metadata and cites the original advisories below.

System administrator

Identify whether Linux Linux is in your estate, then compare installed versions with the affected ranges. Affected packages or ranges on record: Linux Linux 39549eef3587f1c1e8c65c88a2400d10fd30ea17 <87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574 (39549eef3587f1c1e8c65c88a2400d10fd30ea17 <87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574). Check the linked vendor or CERT advisories for patch status. Prefer the vendor or distribution advisory linked in Sources before changing production systems. This is a catalog interpretation, not a runbook.

Security analyst

Signals on file: CVSS 5.5, EPSS 19.0%. It is not currently listed in the CISA Known Exploited catalog. Sources contributing to this record: cve_org, euvd. Public exploit references, when present, are outbound links only and are not proof of active exploitation. This is a catalog interpretation of stored metadata.

Exploitation and remediation

  • Exploitation evidence

    Not listed as known exploited in CISA KEV. Not in CISA KEV or VulnCheck KEV.

  • Patch and remediation

    No required-action text is stored yet. Use the vendor or CERT links in Sources for patch availability.

  • Safe detection guidance

    Compare installed versions with the affected ranges below and verify the advisory from the original publisher. This site stores metadata and outbound links only; it does not ship exploit code or proof-of-concept payloads.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Apr 17, 2025 · EUVD

    Detected

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/core/skbuff.c#skb_release_head_state() might be triggered, under network congestion circumstances, together with the poten

  2. May 11, 2026 · EUVD

    Updated

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/core/skbuff.c#skb_release_head_state() might be triggered, under network congestion circumstances, together with the poten

Affected

  • vendor Linux Linux 39549eef3587f1c1e8c65c88a2400d10fd30ea17 <87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf4723457439549eef3587f1c1e8c65c88a2400d10fd30ea17 <87530b557affe01c764de32dbeb58cdf47234574

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2020-36789

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • EUVDVulnerability recordEUVD-2020-24230

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: dev: can_get_echo_skb(): prevent call to kfree_skb() in hard IRQ context If a driver calls can_get_echo_skb() during a hardware IRQ (which is often, but not always, the case), the 'WARN_ON(in_irq)' in net/co

    euvd.enisa.europa.eu

References