Vulnerability · Published Oct 23, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2026-99079net/mlx5e: Prevent stale XSK buffer release on refill retry

Critical 9.8

In plain English

A critical-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.5% (higher than 40% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)9.8Critical
Exploit odds (30 days)0.5%top 60.3% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsnot in CISA KEV
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Prevent stale XSK buffer release on refill retry When an XDP redirect to an AF_XDP socket fails because its RX ring is full, the XSK core frees the buffer. During the subsequent batched refill of a legacy cyclic RQ, mlx5e also releases the WQE's XSK buffer before allocating a replacement. If that refill succeeds only partially, a WQE left without a replacement retains its old buffer pointer. The buffer can meanwhile be allocated to another WQE. A later refill retry can then free the live buffer through the stale pointer and publish the same UMEM frame twice. Mark the WQE as released immediately after the driver-side free. The flag is already cleared when a replacement buffer is assigned, so refill retries no longer release stale pointers. The failure is silent and produces no kernel warning or splat. A standalone legacy cyclic-RQ zero-copy libxsk reproducer, using 64-byte UDP traffic offered at 12 Mpps, detected it: stock stopped after 2,854,914 packets in 4.094 seconds, with 4,542 xdp_rx_ring_full events and 64 ownership/double-publication errors. With this change it processed 356,904,225 packets in 30 seconds despite 571,405 xdp_rx_ring_full events, with no ownership or data errors.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:13linux6.12.113-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-99079
Debian:14linux7.2.11-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinuxno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinuxno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-awsno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-awsno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azureno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-azureno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcpno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-gcpno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gkeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-gkeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gkeopno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-ibmno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-ibmno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-ibm-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatencyno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-nvidiano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-bosno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-lowlatencyno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-tegrano fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-oem-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracleno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-oracleno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspino fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-raspino fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:26.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-7.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-vmwareno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-xilinxno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-99079

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux 3f93f82988bc6b4104314bf9aa485d47fbb7e241 – before 32bbb870078d467479965c21bbc4960c57eea2083f93f82988bc6b4104314bf9aa485d47fbb7e241 – before 34d1db2b18e1c1d189e34dd51923e031815f88e33f93f82988bc6b4104314bf9aa485d47fbb7e241 – before 639522e5056cade578a324acfa993ec6c9f7f5dc3f93f82988bc6b4104314bf9aa485d47fbb7e241 – before 655f47477054d19de3b138840be229a1a4490d0c3f93f82988bc6b4104314bf9aa485d47fbb7e241 – before e01620844c5c88b6fcf819d171df8e3976a0e76f
Linux Linux 6.4

References