Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/mlx5e: Pass netdev to mlx5e_destroy_netdev instead of priv

mlx5e_priv is an unstable structure that can be memset(0) if profile
attaching fails.

Pass netdev to mlx5e_destroy_netdev() to guarantee it will work on a
valid netdev.

On mlx5e_remove: Check validity of priv->profile, before attempting
to cleanup any resources that might be not there.

This fixes a kernel oops in mlx5e_remove when switchdev mode fails due
to change profile failure.

$ devlink dev eswitch set pci/0000:00:03.0 mode switchdev
Error: mlx5_core: Failed setting eswitch to offloads.
dmesg:
workqueue: Failed to create a rescuer kthread for wq "mlx5e": -EINTR
mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1: mlx5e_netdev_init_profile:6214:(pid 37199): mlx5e_priv_init failed, err=-12
mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1 gpu3rdma1: mlx5e_netdev_change_profile: new profile init failed, -12
workqueue: Failed to create a rescuer kthread for wq "mlx5e": -EINTR
mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1: mlx5e_netdev_init_profile:6214:(pid 37199): mlx5e_priv_init failed, err=-12
mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1 gpu3rdma1: mlx5e_netdev_change_profile: failed to rollback to orig profile, -12

$ devlink dev reload pci/0000:00:03.0 ==> oops

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000370
PGD 0 P4D 0
Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
CPU: 15 UID: 0 PID: 520 Comm: devlink Not tainted 6.18.0-rc5+ #115 PREEMPT(voluntary)
Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-2.fc40 04/01/2014
RIP: 0010:mlx5e_dcbnl_dscp_app+0x23/0x100
RSP: 0018:ffffc9000083f8b8 EFLAGS: 00010286
RAX: ffff8881126fc380 RBX: ffff8881015ac400 RCX: ffffffff826ffc45
RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000001 RDI: ffff8881035109c0
RBP: ffff8881035109c0 R08: ffff888101e3e838 R09: ffff888100264e10
R10: ffffc9000083f898 R11: ffffc9000083f8a0 R12: ffff888101b921a0
R13: ffff888101b921a0 R14: ffff8881015ac9a0 R15: ffff8881015ac400
FS: 00007f789a3c8740(0000) GS:ffff88856aa59000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000
CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033
CR2: 0000000000000370 CR3: 000000010b6c0001 CR4: 0000000000370ef0
Call Trace:
<TASK>
mlx5e_remove+0x57/0x110
device_release_driver_internal+0x19c/0x200
bus_remove_device+0xc6/0x130
device_del+0x160/0x3d0
? devl_param_driverinit_value_get+0x2d/0x90
mlx5_detach_device+0x89/0xe0
mlx5_unload_one_devl_locked+0x3a/0x70
mlx5_devlink_reload_down+0xc8/0x220
devlink_reload+0x7d/0x260
devlink_nl_reload_doit+0x45b/0x5a0
genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe8/0x140
Published: 2026-01-31
Score: 7.0 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Denial of Service (Kernel Crash)
Action: Patch
AI Analysis

Impact

The vulnerability arises in the Linux mlx5e network device driver when it passes an invalid "priv" pointer to mlx5e_destroy_netdev, which can be zeroed during failed profile attachments. This results in a NULL pointer dereference that causes the kernel to Oops during device removal or devlink reload operations. The crash leads to a loss of kernel stability and effectively brings the affected system down.

Affected Systems

This issue affects Linux kernel builds that incorporate the mlx5e driver. The patch is present in mainline kernel commits referenced in the advisory but not yet available in older kernel releases. Users running Linux kernel versions prior to the commit, especially with switchdev mode enabled, are impacted.

Risk and Exploitability

The bug has a CVSS score of 7.0 indicating moderate severity. Exploitation requires local access to the system because the bug is triggered by administrative devlink commands or by a failure in switchdev configuration. EPSS suggests few chances of exploitation. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog, implying it is not yet widely exploited. Administrators should consider the kernel crash as a denial of service and are encouraged to update kernels to include the patch.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 18, 2026 at 14:22 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Update your kernel to a version that includes the mlx5e patch (e.g., Linux 6.19 or later).
  • If updating immediately is not possible, avoid performing devlink reloads or switchdev configuration changes that could trigger the crash.
  • Monitor dmesg and system logs for Oops and apply the backported patch for your specific kernel version.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on April 18, 2026 at 14:22 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6126-1 linux security update
History

Sat, 18 Apr 2026 14:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Sat, 31 Jan 2026 12:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Pass netdev to mlx5e_destroy_netdev instead of priv mlx5e_priv is an unstable structure that can be memset(0) if profile attaching fails. Pass netdev to mlx5e_destroy_netdev() to guarantee it will work on a valid netdev. On mlx5e_remove: Check validity of priv->profile, before attempting to cleanup any resources that might be not there. This fixes a kernel oops in mlx5e_remove when switchdev mode fails due to change profile failure. $ devlink dev eswitch set pci/0000:00:03.0 mode switchdev Error: mlx5_core: Failed setting eswitch to offloads. dmesg: workqueue: Failed to create a rescuer kthread for wq "mlx5e": -EINTR mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1: mlx5e_netdev_init_profile:6214:(pid 37199): mlx5e_priv_init failed, err=-12 mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1 gpu3rdma1: mlx5e_netdev_change_profile: new profile init failed, -12 workqueue: Failed to create a rescuer kthread for wq "mlx5e": -EINTR mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1: mlx5e_netdev_init_profile:6214:(pid 37199): mlx5e_priv_init failed, err=-12 mlx5_core 0012:03:00.1 gpu3rdma1: mlx5e_netdev_change_profile: failed to rollback to orig profile, -12 $ devlink dev reload pci/0000:00:03.0 ==> oops BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000370 PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI CPU: 15 UID: 0 PID: 520 Comm: devlink Not tainted 6.18.0-rc5+ #115 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-2.fc40 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:mlx5e_dcbnl_dscp_app+0x23/0x100 RSP: 0018:ffffc9000083f8b8 EFLAGS: 00010286 RAX: ffff8881126fc380 RBX: ffff8881015ac400 RCX: ffffffff826ffc45 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000001 RDI: ffff8881035109c0 RBP: ffff8881035109c0 R08: ffff888101e3e838 R09: ffff888100264e10 R10: ffffc9000083f898 R11: ffffc9000083f8a0 R12: ffff888101b921a0 R13: ffff888101b921a0 R14: ffff8881015ac9a0 R15: ffff8881015ac400 FS: 00007f789a3c8740(0000) GS:ffff88856aa59000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000370 CR3: 000000010b6c0001 CR4: 0000000000370ef0 Call Trace: <TASK> mlx5e_remove+0x57/0x110 device_release_driver_internal+0x19c/0x200 bus_remove_device+0xc6/0x130 device_del+0x160/0x3d0 ? devl_param_driverinit_value_get+0x2d/0x90 mlx5_detach_device+0x89/0xe0 mlx5_unload_one_devl_locked+0x3a/0x70 mlx5_devlink_reload_down+0xc8/0x220 devlink_reload+0x7d/0x260 devlink_nl_reload_doit+0x45b/0x5a0 genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe8/0x140
Title net/mlx5e: Pass netdev to mlx5e_destroy_netdev instead of priv
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-02-09T08:37:29.873Z

Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:45.943Z

Link: CVE-2026-23035

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Deferred

Published: 2026-01-31T12:16:06.807

Modified: 2026-04-15T00:35:42.020

Link: CVE-2026-23035

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-01-31T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-23035 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-18T14:30:02Z

Weaknesses