CVE-2024-26853: igc: avoid returning frame twice in XDP_REDIRECT
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
igc: avoid returning frame twice in XDP_REDIRECT
When a frame can not be transmitted in XDP_REDIRECT
(e.g. due to a full queue), it is necessary to free
it by calling xdp_return_frame_rx_napi.
However, this is the responsibility of the caller of
the ndo_xdp_xmit (see for example bq_xmit_all in
kernel/bpf/devmap.c) and thus calling it inside
igc_xdp_xmit (which is the ndo_xdp_xmit of the igc
driver) as well will lead to memory corruption.
In fact, bq_xmit_all expects that it can return all
frames after the last successfully transmitted one.
Therefore, break for the first not transmitted frame,
but do not call xdp_return_frame_rx_napi in igc_xdp_xmit.
This is equally implemented in other Intel drivers
such as the igb.
There are two alternatives to this that were rejected:
1. Return num_frames as all the frames would have been
transmitted and release them inside igc_xdp_xmit.
While it might work technically, it is not what
the return value is meant to represent (i.e. the
number of SUCCESSFULLY transmitted packets).
2. Rework kernel/bpf/devmap.c and all drivers to
support non-consecutively dropped packets.
Besides being complex, it likely has a negative
performance impact without a significant gain
since it is anyway unlikely that the next frame
can be transmitted if the previous one was dropped.
The memory corruption can be reproduced with
the following script which leads to a kernel panic
after a few seconds. It basically generates more
traffic than a i225 NIC can transmit and pushes it
via XDP_REDIRECT from a virtual interface to the
physical interface where frames get dropped.
#!/bin/bash
INTERFACE=enp4s0
INTERFACE_IDX=`cat /sys/class/net/$INTERFACE/ifindex`
sudo ip link add dev veth1 type veth peer name veth2
sudo ip link set up $INTERFACE
sudo ip link set up veth1
sudo ip link set up veth2
cat << EOF > redirect.bpf.c
SEC("prog")
int redirect(struct xdp_md *ctx)
{
return bpf_redirect($INTERFACE_IDX, 0);
}
char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
EOF
clang -O2 -g -Wall -target bpf -c redirect.bpf.c -o redirect.bpf.o
sudo ip link set veth2 xdp obj redirect.bpf.o
cat << EOF > pass.bpf.c
SEC("prog")
int pass(struct xdp_md *ctx)
{
return XDP_PASS;
}
char _license[] SEC("license") = "GPL";
EOF
clang -O2 -g -Wall -target bpf -c pass.bpf.c -o pass.bpf.o
sudo ip link set $INTERFACE xdp obj pass.bpf.o
cat << EOF > trafgen.cfg
{
/* Ethernet Header */
0xe8, 0x6a, 0x64, 0x41, 0xbf, 0x46,
0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF, 0xFF,
const16(ETH_P_IP),
/* IPv4 Header */
0b01000101, 0, # IPv4 version, IHL, TOS
const16(1028), # IPv4 total length (UDP length + 20 bytes (IP header))
const16(2), # IPv4 ident
0b01000000, 0, # IPv4 flags, fragmentation off
64, # IPv4 TTL
17, # Protocol UDP
csumip(14, 33), # IPv4 checksum
/* UDP Header */
10, 0, 1, 1, # IP Src - adapt as needed
10, 0, 1, 2, # IP Dest - adapt as needed
const16(6666), # UDP Src Port
const16(6666), # UDP Dest Port
const16(1008), # UDP length (UDP header 8 bytes + payload length)
csumudp(14, 34), # UDP checksum
/* Payload */
fill('W', 1000),
}
EOF
sudo trafgen -i trafgen.cfg -b3000MB -o veth1 --cpp
Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A Linux network-driver flaw can corrupt kernel memory and crash affected systems when XDP redirects more traffic to an igc interface than its transmit queue can handle. Exposure is conditional on the igc driver and XDP_REDIRECT configuration; the supplied evidence demonstrates a kernel panic, not remote code execution.
Executive priority
Treat remediation as urgent for network appliances, edge systems, or performance-sensitive hosts using the affected igc/XDP path. Kernel corruption can cause abrupt outages. Prioritize exposure confirmation and vendor kernel updates, while noting that the supplied sources do not report exploitation in the wild.
Technical view
On failed transmission, igc_xdp_xmit returned an XDP frame even though the devmap caller also owned that cleanup. This double return causes memory corruption. The correction stops at the first unsuccessful frame and leaves frame release to the caller, matching the expected ndo_xdp_xmit ownership contract.
Likely exposure
Most likely exposure is on Linux systems using the igc driver, an i225-class interface, and XDP_REDIRECT into that interface under transmit congestion. Systems not using this driver or data path are unlikely to trigger the flaw. Exact distribution package boundaries require vendor verification.
Exploitation context
The supplied record is not in CISA KEV and provides no evidence of exploitation in the wild. It does document a reproducible kernel panic caused by sustained redirected traffic exceeding the physical interface's transmit capacity. The evidence does not establish remote code execution.
Researcher notes
The evidence supports a frame-ownership violation, memory corruption, and denial of service through kernel panic. It does not demonstrate code execution or broader compromise. The normalized version entries do not reliably define every affected distribution build; determine exposure through commit ancestry and vendor backport records.
Mitigation direction
Update to a vendor-supported kernel containing the applicable cited stable fix.
Confirm the exact fixed package and backport status with your Linux distribution vendor.
Until patched, avoid XDP_REDIRECT into affected igc interfaces where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
Inventory Linux hosts using the igc driver and i225-class network adapters.
Identify XDP programs redirecting traffic into those physical interfaces.
Compare each running kernel build with vendor backport information and the cited stable commits.
Review kernel logs for memory-corruption reports or panics associated with affected networking paths.
After updating, validate the redirected traffic path under controlled laboratory load.
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
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
cve · low confidence lookup
CVE-2024-26853 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
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.
We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.