NULL dereference in Linux mlx5e AF_XDP TX timestamp teardown
Key facts
- Attack vector
- —
- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 5 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Linux kernel versions from 6.8 are affected by a flaw in the mlx5e network driver. During AF_XDP TX queue teardown, a pending TX timestamp request completes without a completion entry, and the timestamp path then dereferences that NULL pointer. The source does not describe the attacker requirements or any exploitation.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Fix AF_XDP TX timestamp teardown NULL dereference During XSK TX queue teardown, outstanding descriptors are completed without a CQE. If one requested a TX timestamp, the completion path passes that NULL CQE to mlx5e_xsk_fill_timestamp(), which dereferences it. Return zero when no CQE is available, indicating that teardown did not produce a TX timestamp.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Fixed in Linux kernel 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 and 7.3. Red Hat plans no fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. The sources list no fixed version for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 and Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4
Timeline
- 2026-10-18 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98791
- 2026-10-18 Alias added: GHSA-5f42-c4x2-rx63
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-24 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-24 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98791 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98791 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-5f42-c4x2-rx63 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98791 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences