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CVE Record

CVE-2026-22996: net/mlx5e: Don't store mlx5e_priv in mlx5e_dev devlink priv

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Don't store mlx5e_priv in mlx5e_dev devlink priv mlx5e_priv is an unstable structure that can be memset(0) if profile attaching fails, mlx5e_priv in mlx5e_dev devlink private is used to reference the netdev and mdev associated with that struct. Instead, store netdev directly into mlx5e_dev and get mdev from the containing mlx5_adev aux device structure. 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: 0000000000000520 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page PGD 0 P4D 0 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI CPU: 3 UID: 0 PID: 521 Comm: devlink Not tainted 6.18.0-rc5+ #117 PREEMPT(voluntary) Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-2.fc40 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:mlx5e_remove+0x68/0x130 RSP: 0018:ffffc900034838f0 EFLAGS: 00010246 RAX: ffff88810283c380 RBX: ffff888101874400 RCX: ffffffff826ffc45 RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: 0000000000000001 RDI: 0000000000000000 RBP: ffff888102d789c0 R08: ffff8881007137f0 R09: ffff888100264e10 R10: ffffc90003483898 R11: ffffc900034838a0 R12: ffff888100d261a0 R13: ffff888100d261a0 R14: ffff8881018749a0 R15: ffff888101874400 FS: 00007f8565fea740(0000) GS:ffff88856a759000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 CR2: 0000000000000520 CR3: 000000010b11a004 CR4: 0000000000370ef0 Call Trace: <TASK> 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

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

This Linux kernel issue can crash an affected system during mlx5e network device cleanup after a failed switchdev/offload profile change. The business impact is availability loss on systems using mlx5e-supported Mellanox/NVIDIA networking hardware. The source bundle does not show active exploitation, CVSS scoring, or remote attack evidence.

Executive priority

Prioritize where mlx5e-backed hosts support critical network, storage, GPU, or virtualization workloads. Treat as availability risk, not confirmed active exploitation.

Technical view

The mlx5e driver stored an unstable mlx5e_priv pointer in devlink private data. If profile attachment failed, that structure could be zeroed, leaving cleanup paths to dereference invalid state during mlx5e_remove. Kernel stable fixes store netdev directly in mlx5e_dev and obtain mdev through the containing auxiliary device.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems with mlx5e devices and devlink/eswitch switchdev or offload workflows. The bundle lists Linux kernel versions as affected but does not provide a clean distro package matrix.

Exploitation context

The provided evidence shows a kernel NULL pointer dereference after a failed switchdev/offload transition followed by device reload. KEV is false, and the bundle contains no cited evidence of active exploitation or remote triggering.

Researcher notes

Evidence is from the CVE record and Linux stable commit references. The affected-version data is sparse and duplicated in the bundle, so distro-specific exposure requires vendor mapping.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a kernel containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check Linux distribution advisories for backported mlx5e fixes.
  • Restrict devlink and CAP_NET_ADMIN access to trusted administrators.
  • Avoid nonessential mlx5e switchdev/offload transitions on unpatched systems.
  • Monitor for mlx5e_remove NULL dereference crashes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory hosts using the mlx5e driver and compatible NICs.
  • Compare running kernel builds against vendor advisories and fixed commits.
  • Review logs for failed mlx5e profile changes before crashes.
  • Confirm devlink administration is limited to trusted operators.
  • Validate patched kernels in staging before production rollout.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

Public sources used

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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CVE-2026-22996 mapping review

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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
0ADP providers
4Source links

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.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxc4d7eb57687f358cd498ea3624519236af8db97e, c4d7eb57687f358cd498ea3624519236af8db97e, c4d7eb57687f358cd498ea3624519236af8db97eunaffected
LinuxLinux5.12, 0, 6.12.67, 6.18.7, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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