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CVE Record

CVE-2024-26803: net: veth: clear GRO when clearing XDP even when down

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: veth: clear GRO when clearing XDP even when down veth sets NETIF_F_GRO automatically when XDP is enabled, because both features use the same NAPI machinery. The logic to clear NETIF_F_GRO sits in veth_disable_xdp() which is called both on ndo_stop and when XDP is turned off. To avoid the flag from being cleared when the device is brought down, the clearing is skipped when IFF_UP is not set. Bringing the device down should indeed not modify its features. Unfortunately, this means that clearing is also skipped when XDP is disabled _while_ the device is down. And there's nothing on the open path to bring the device features back into sync. IOW if user enables XDP, disables it and then brings the device up we'll end up with a stray GRO flag set but no NAPI instances. We don't depend on the GRO flag on the datapath, so the datapath won't crash. We will crash (or hang), however, next time features are sync'ed (either by user via ethtool or peer changing its config). The GRO flag will go away, and veth will try to disable the NAPIs. But the open path never created them since XDP was off, the GRO flag was a stray. If NAPI was initialized before we'll hang in napi_disable(). If it never was we'll crash trying to stop uninitialized hrtimer. Move the GRO flag updates to the XDP enable / disable paths, instead of mixing them with the ndo_open / ndo_close paths.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2024-26803 is a Linux kernel veth bug involving XDP and GRO feature state. Under a specific down-interface configuration sequence, the kernel can later crash or hang when network features are synchronized. The main business risk is local denial of service on affected Linux hosts, especially systems relying on virtual Ethernet pairs for containers or network virtualization.

Executive priority

Handle during normal kernel patch cycles, with higher priority for container platforms or network-heavy Linux hosts. There is no source evidence of active exploitation, but an availability-impacting kernel crash can still affect production reliability.

Technical view

In veth, enabling XDP also sets NETIF_F_GRO because both use NAPI machinery. If XDP is disabled while the device is down, GRO can remain incorrectly set without NAPI instances. Later feature synchronization can attempt to disable nonexistent or uninitialized NAPI state, causing a hang or crash. Stable kernel commits move GRO updates into XDP enable and disable paths.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant on Linux hosts using veth interfaces with XDP, such as container, Kubernetes, or network-function environments. The source marks Linux kernel versions including 5.13, 5.15.151, 6.1.81, 6.6.21, 6.7.9, and 6.8 as affected, but distro backport status must be confirmed.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, public exploit availability, or KEV listing. The bug appears to require local or privileged control over veth and XDP state changes, followed by a feature synchronization event. Treat it as a stability and availability risk rather than a confirmed remote compromise path.

Researcher notes

The CVE description gives a clear root cause and fix direction, but no CVSS, CWE, exploit evidence, or vendor-specific fixed package matrix. Validate exposure against the exact running kernel and distribution backports rather than relying only on upstream version numbers.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply a vendor or distro kernel update containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Confirm fixed package versions with Linux distribution security advisories.
  • Prioritize container hosts or systems using veth with XDP.
  • Avoid toggling XDP on down veth devices until patched.
  • Plan reboot or live-patch validation according to kernel maintenance policy.

Validation and detection

  • Check running kernel versions across Linux fleets.
  • Confirm vendor packages include the CVE-2024-26803 backport or stable commit.
  • Identify hosts using veth interfaces and XDP.
  • Review change records for recent XDP and veth configuration changes.
  • Monitor affected hosts for unexplained kernel hangs or crashes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
2ADP providers
6Source links

SSVC decision data

CISA-ADPCISA Coordinator
Timestamp
Version
2.0.3
Exploitation: noneAutomatable: noTechnical Impact: partial

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

ADP provider summaries

CVECVE Program Container
CISA-ADPCISA ADP Vulnrichment
other:ssvc
Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxd3256efd8e8b234a6251e4d4580bd2c3c31fdc4c, d3256efd8e8b234a6251e4d4580bd2c3c31fdc4c, d3256efd8e8b234a6251e4d4580bd2c3c31fdc4c, d3256efd8e8b234a6251e4d4580bd2c3c31fdc4c, d3256efd8e8b234a6251e4d4580bd2c3c31fdc4cunaffected
LinuxLinux5.13, 0, 5.15.151, 6.1.81, 6.6.21, 6.7.9, 6.8affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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