Premature metadata_dst free in Linux ice driver representor teardown
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel ice driver is affected in versions from 5.16 before the fixed releases listed in the solution. The function ice_eswitch_release_repr() frees a representor's metadata_dst directly without checking its dst_entry reference count, so the object can be freed while references are still held. Packets queued on a lower device, such as in a qdisc, when the representor is torn down can therefore use the freed object. The sources do not report exploitation.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: fix metadata_dst refcount handling on representor teardown ice_eswitch_release_repr() uses metadata_dst_free() to release the representor's metadata_dst. metadata_dst_free() directly frees the underlying memory without checking the dst_entry refcount. When ice_eswitch_port_start_xmit() processes a packet, it takes a reference via dst_hold() and attaches the metadata_dst to the skb. If the representor is torn down while packets are still queued on the lower device (e.g. in a qdisc), the metadata_dst is freed while references are still held. Use dst_release() instead, which correctly decrements the refcount and only frees the object when all references are dropped. The dst subsystem already handles metadata_dst cleanup in dst_destroy() when DST_METADATA is set. Other drivers sharing this pattern (nfp, airoha, bnxt) already use dst_release() for their metadata_dst lifecycle.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Update the Linux kernel to 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11 or 7.3, or a later release in the same branch. Red Hat lists no available fix for Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, 9 and 10 or Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-10-30
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.191, 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11, 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 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 2 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
Timeline
- 2026-10-23 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-99043
- 2026-10-23 Alias added: GHSA-45qx-wx52-595w
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-29 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-30 Fix available: Linux/Linux@41f0d9ab158fb51f34bded5f8a40918e4f70b2b6, Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-10-30 1 new reference · CNA
References
Other 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41f0d9ab158fb51f34bded5f8a40918e4f70b2b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f263235651775f93c15d90c9f25c3f4a4ef6512
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f5544f53f1e58ea8a49fb9f9158d5793b9205b0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/beb05f484a1e4a5a66e3678e4b7f3147f651c080
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e4d20db5179e83a4948927bc39e489a9a83256d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58858b8f14803a7eeac297b3ce20f3b21bf2ff66
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Sources
- CVE-2026-99043 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-99043 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-45qx-wx52-595w · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-99043 · 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