Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net/mlx5e: RX, Fix XDP multi-buf frag counting for striding RQ
XDP multi-buf programs can modify the layout of the XDP buffer when the
program calls bpf_xdp_pull_data() or bpf_xdp_adjust_tail(). The
referenced commit in the fixes tag corrected the assumption in the mlx5
driver that the XDP buffer layout doesn't change during a program
execution. However, this fix introduced another issue: the dropped
fragments still need to be counted on the driver side to avoid page
fragment reference counting issues.
The issue was discovered by the drivers/net/xdp.py selftest,
more specifically the test_xdp_native_tx_mb:
- The mlx5 driver allocates a page_pool page and initializes it with
a frag counter of 64 (pp_ref_count=64) and the internal frag counter
to 0.
- The test sends one packet with no payload.
- On RX (mlx5e_skb_from_cqe_mpwrq_nonlinear()), mlx5 configures the XDP
buffer with the packet data starting in the first fragment which is the
page mentioned above.
- The XDP program runs and calls bpf_xdp_pull_data() which moves the
header into the linear part of the XDP buffer. As the packet doesn't
contain more data, the program drops the tail fragment since it no
longer contains any payload (pp_ref_count=63).
- mlx5 device skips counting this fragment. Internal frag counter
remains 0.
- mlx5 releases all 64 fragments of the page but page pp_ref_count is
63 => negative reference counting error.
Resulting splat during the test:
WARNING: CPU: 0 PID: 188225 at ./include/net/page_pool/helpers.h:297 mlx5e_page_release_fragmented.isra.0+0xbd/0xe0 [mlx5_core]
Modules linked in: [...]
CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 188225 Comm: ip Not tainted 6.18.0-rc7_for_upstream_min_debug_2025_12_08_11_44 #1 NONE
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS rel-1.13.0-0-gf21b5a4aeb02-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014
RIP: 0010:mlx5e_page_release_fragmented.isra.0+0xbd/0xe0 [mlx5_core]
[...]
Call Trace:
<TASK>
mlx5e_free_rx_mpwqe+0x20a/0x250 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_dealloc_rx_mpwqe+0x37/0xb0 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_free_rx_descs+0x11a/0x170 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_close_rq+0x78/0xa0 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_close_queues+0x46/0x2a0 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_close_channel+0x24/0x90 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_close_channels+0x5d/0xf0 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_safe_switch_params+0x2ec/0x380 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_change_mtu+0x11d/0x490 [mlx5_core]
mlx5e_change_nic_mtu+0x19/0x30 [mlx5_core]
netif_set_mtu_ext+0xfc/0x240
do_setlink.isra.0+0x226/0x1100
rtnl_newlink+0x7a9/0xba0
rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x220/0x3c0
netlink_rcv_skb+0x4b/0xf0
netlink_unicast+0x255/0x380
netlink_sendmsg+0x1f3/0x420
__sock_sendmsg+0x38/0x60
____sys_sendmsg+0x1e8/0x240
___sys_sendmsg+0x7c/0xb0
[...]
__sys_sendmsg+0x5f/0xb0
do_syscall_64+0x55/0xc70
The problem applies for XDP_PASS as well which is handled in a different
code path in the driver.
This patch fixes the issue by doing page frag counting on all the
original XDP buffer fragments for all relevant XDP actions (XDP_TX ,
XDP_REDIRECT and XDP_PASS). This is basically reverting to the original
counting before the commit in the fixes tag.
As frag_page is still pointing to the original tail, the nr_frags
parameter to xdp_update_skb_frags_info() needs to be calculated
in a different way to reflect the new nr_frags.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.6.115 – < 6.6.160, 6.12.56 – < 6.12.114, 6.17.6 – < 6.18, 6.18 | 6.6.160 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 6.19.10-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.12.115-2 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux-6.12 | 6.12.115-2~deb12u1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 24.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 6.8.0-1028.33 | — |
| Ubuntu 25.10 | linux +8 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux | 6.8.0-137.137 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-aws | 6.8.0-1062.65 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure | 6.8.0-1064.72 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.17 | 6.17.0-1022.22 | USN-8636-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 6.8.0-1063.70 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 6.8.0-1065.73 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.17 | 6.17.0-1022.25 | USN-8636-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gke | 6.8.0-1060.68 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 6.8.0-1047.51 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.17 | 6.17.0-42.42 | USN-8636-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 6.8.0-1062.63 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 6.8.0-137.137.1 | USN-8630-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 6.8.0-1060.63 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.17 | 6.17.0-1031.31 | USN-8669-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-lowlatency | 6.8.0-1060.63.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 6.8.0-1031.32 | USN-8630-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oem-6.17 | 6.17.0-1032.32 | USN-8636-1 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 6.8.0-1059.62 | USN-8630-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.17 | 6.17.0-1020.20 | USN-8636-2 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 6.8.0-1062.66 | USN-8630-5 |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +19 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-vmware | 6.8.0-1008.8 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-xilinx | 6.8.0-1034.35 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws-6.8 | 6.8.0-1062.65~22.04.2 | USN-8630-4 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-6.8 | 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde-6.8 | 6.8.0-1063.70~22.04.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp-6.8 | 6.8.0-1065.73~22.04.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-138.138~22.04.1 | USN-8656-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm-6.8 | 6.8.0-1062.63~22.04.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 | 6.8.0-137.137.1~22.04.1 | USN-8630-2 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-6.8 | 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle-6.8 | 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1 | USN-8630-3 |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv-6.8 | 6.8.0-137.137~22.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
Show 5 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | 6.8.0-2051.53 | USN-8630-5 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 6.8.1-1057.58 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 24.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.17 | 6.17.0-1019.22 | USN-8636-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime-6.8 | 6.8.1-1057.58~22.04.1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-aws-fips | 6.8.0-1062.65+fips1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-azure-fips | 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-fips | 6.8.0-137.137+fips1 | USN-8630-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 24.04 LTS | linux-gcp-fips | 6.8.0-1065.73+fips1 | USN-8630-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-64kb +4 | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-default-base | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.2.150700.17.41.4 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SLES 15 SP7 | kernel-docs +2 | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 |
| SLES for SAP 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-64kb +8 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22812-1 |
| SLES 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | SUSE-SU-2026:22769-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.2 | kernel-rt +5 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22769-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22742-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22904-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22903-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.1 | kernel-source +1 | 6.4.0-50.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:22904-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22903-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:22810-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22809-1 |
| SLE Micro 6.0 | kernel-source +1 | 6.4.0-50.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:22810-1, SUSE-SU-2026:22809-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-default | 6.4.0-150700.53.73.2 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_18 | 1-150700.1.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3130-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP7 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_19 | 1-150700.15.3.4 | SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | kernel-rt +2 | 6.4.0-150700.7.67.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:3130-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-default-base | 6.12.0-160000.36.1.160000.2.17 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21388-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | kernel-rt +11 | 6.12.0-160000.36.1 | openSUSE-SU-2026:21388-1 |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2023 | kernel-livepatch-6.18.20-20.229 | 1:1.0-0.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1596 |
| Amazon Linux 2023 | perf6.18 +14 | 1:6.18.20-20.229.amzn2023 | ALAS2023-2026-1596 |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 3 | kernel | No fix yet | — |
Advisories 22
- WID-SEC-2026-1454 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- USN-8669-1 linux-nvidia-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8636-2 linux-oracle-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8636-1 linux-azure-6.17, linux-gcp-6.17, linux-hwe-6.17, linux-oem-6.17, linux-realtime-6.17 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Nov 6, 2026
- USN-8630-1 linux, linux-aws, linux-aws-fips, linux-azure, linux-azure-6.8, linux-azure-fde, linux-azure-fde-6.8, linux-azure-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp, linux-gcp-6.8, linux-gcp-fips, linux-gke, linux-gkeop, linux-ibm, linux-ibm-6.8, linux-nvidia, linux-nvidia-6.8, linux-nvidia-lowlatency, linux-realtime, linux-realtime-6.8, linux-xilinx vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Oct 8, 2026
- USN-8630-3 linux-oracle-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 11, 2026
- USN-8630-4 linux-aws-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 11, 2026
- USN-8630-5 linux-raspi, linux-raspi-realtime vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 11, 2026
- USN-8630-2 linux-lowlatency, linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8, linux-nvidia-tegra, linux-oracle vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 11, 2026
- USN-8656-1 linux-hwe-6.8 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Sep 11, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22903-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22904-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22835-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22809-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22810-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22812-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 28, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2026:21388-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 24, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22769-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:22742-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3166-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 22, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:3130-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Jul 21, 2026
- ALAS2023-2026-1596 Important: kernel6.18 security update (Amazon Linux 2023) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Jun 16, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6451ea47d60a8ca3524dfe370c013cd01063c7d3
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0a850677a7b7589208ce11480e6958f516c8386
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d7342a18fadcdb70a63b3c930dc63528ce51832
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/043bd62f748bc9fd98154037aa598cffbd3c667c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/db25c42c2e1f9c0d136420fff5e5700f7e771a6f