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.
Analysis
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Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
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Tracking
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Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:45:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | 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. | |
| Title | ice: fix metadata_dst refcount handling on representor teardown | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-10-23T12:22:07.372Z
Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.387Z
Link: CVE-2026-99043
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-10-23T13:17:27.723
Modified: 2026-10-23T13:17:27.723
Link: CVE-2026-99043
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
No weakness.