CVE-2026-43464

What it is

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: RX, Fix XDP multi-buf frag counting for legacy RQ XDP multi-buf programs can modify the layout of the XDP buffer when the program calls bpf_xdp_pull_data() or bpf_xdp_adjust_tail(). The referenced commit in the fixes tag corrected the assumption in the mlx5 driver that the XDP buffer layout doesn't change during a program execution. However, this fix introduced another issue: the dropped fragments still need to be counted on the driver side to avoid page fragment reference counting issues. Such issue can be observed with the test_xdp_native_adjst_tail_shrnk_data selftest when using a payload of 3600 and shrinking by 256 bytes (an upcoming selftest patch): the last fragment gets released by the XDP code but doesn't get tracked by the driver. This results in a negative pp_ref_count during page release and the following splat: WARNING: include/net/page_pool/helpers.h:297 at mlx5e_page_release_fragmented.isra.0+0x4a/0x50 [mlx5_core], CPU#12: ip/3137 Modules linked in: [...] CPU: 12 UID: 0 PID: 3137 Comm: ip Not tainted 6.19.0-rc3+ #12 NONE Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS rel-1.16.3-0-ga6ed6b701f0a-prebuilt.qemu.org 04/01/2014 RIP: 0010:mlx5e_page_release_fragmented.isra.0+0x4a/0x50 [mlx5_core] [...] Call Trace: <TASK> mlx5e_dealloc_rx_wqe+0xcb/0x1a0 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_free_rx_descs+0x7f/0x110 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_close_rq+0x50/0x60 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_close_queues+0x36/0x2c0 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_close_channel+0x1c/0x50 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_close_channels+0x45/0x80 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_safe_switch_params+0x1a5/0x230 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_change_mtu+0xf3/0x2f0 [mlx5_core] netif_set_mtu_ext+0xf1/0x230 do_setlink.isra.0+0x219/0x1180 rtnl_newlink+0x79f/0xb60 rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x213/0x3a0 netlink_rcv_skb+0x48/0xf0 netlink_unicast+0x24a/0x350 netlink_sendmsg+0x1ee/0x410 __sock_sendmsg+0x38/0x60 ____sys_sendmsg+0x232/0x280 ___sys_sendmsg+0x78/0xb0 __sys_sendmsg+0x5f/0xb0 [...] do_syscall_64+0x57/0xc50 This patch fixes the issue by doing page frag counting on all the original XDP buffer fragments for all relevant XDP actions (XDP_TX , XDP_REDIRECT and XDP_PASS). This is basically reverting to the original counting before the commit in the fixes tag. As frag_page is still pointing to the original tail, the nr_frags parameter to xdp_update_skb_frags_info() needs to be calculated in a different way to reflect the new nr_frags.

At a glance

Exploitability

Can be exploited over the network without logging in. High risk of service disruption.

Exploit odds

0.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).

Fix

A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

1. 2026-05-08 15:16 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2. 2026-10-21 13:18 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

• Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
• Exploit odds: 0.5% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
• Severity: 7.5 HIGH (CVSS).
• Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published

2026-05-08 15:16 UTC

Last modified

2026-10-21 13:18 UTC

Exploit probability

0.5% · EPSS, next 30 days

Record status

Modified

Affected

• Linux Kernel < 6.7
• Linux Kernel < 6.13
• Linux Kernel < 6.18
• Linux Kernel < 6.18.19
• Linux Kernel < 6.19.9
• Linux Kernel 6.18
• Linux Kernel 7.0

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 7.5

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

Low

Privileges needed

None

User interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

None

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-43464.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-43464. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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