CVE-2022-50476

ntb_netdev: Use dev_kfree_skb_any() in interrupt context

Published Oct 4, 2025 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

ntb_netdev: Use dev_kfree_skb_any() in interrupt context

TX/RX callback handlers (ntb_netdev_tx_handler(),
ntb_netdev_rx_handler()) can be called in interrupt
context via the DMA framework when the respective
DMA operations have completed. As such, any calls
by these routines to free skb's, should use the
interrupt context safe dev_kfree_skb_any() function.

Previously, these callback handlers would call the
interrupt unsafe version of dev_kfree_skb(). This has
not presented an issue on Intel IOAT DMA engines as
that driver utilizes tasklets rather than a hard
interrupt handler, like the AMD PTDMA DMA driver.
On AMD systems, a kernel WARNING message is
encountered, which is being issued from
skb_release_head_state() due to in_hardirq()
being true.

Besides the user visible WARNING from the kernel,
the other symptom of this bug was that TCP/IP performance
across the ntb_netdev interface was very poor, i.e.
approximately an order of magnitude below what was
expected. With the repair to use dev_kfree_skb_any(),
kernel WARNINGs from skb_release_head_state() ceased
and TCP/IP performance, as measured by iperf, was on
par with expected results, approximately 20 Gb/s on
AMD Milan based server. Note that this performance
is comparable with Intel based servers.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
EUVD EUVD EUVD-2022-55678 In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntb_netdev: Use dev_kfree_skb_any() in interrupt context TX/RX callback handlers (ntb_netdev_tx_handler(), ntb_netdev_rx_handler()) can be called in interrupt context via the DMA framework when the respective DMA operations have completed. As such, any calls by these routines to free skb's, should use the interrupt context safe dev_kfree_skb_any() function. Previously, these callback handlers would call the interrupt unsafe version of dev_kfree_skb(). This has not presented an issue on Intel IOAT DMA engines as that driver utilizes tasklets rather than a hard interrupt handler, like the AMD PTDMA DMA driver. On AMD systems, a kernel WARNING message is encountered, which is being issued from skb_release_head_state() due to in_hardirq() being true. Besides the user visible WARNING from the kernel, the other symptom of this bug was that TCP/IP performance across the ntb_netdev interface was very poor, i.e. approximately an order of magnitude below what was expected. With the repair to use dev_kfree_skb_any(), kernel WARNINGs from skb_release_head_state() ceased and TCP/IP performance, as measured by iperf, was on par with expected results, approximately 20 Gb/s on AMD Milan based server. Note that this performance is comparable with Intel based servers.
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-401
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ntb_netdev: Use dev_kfree_skb_any() in interrupt context TX/RX callback handlers (ntb_netdev_tx_handler(), ntb_netdev_rx_handler()) can be called in interrupt context via the DMA framework when the respective DMA operations have completed. As such, any calls by these routines to free skb's, should use the interrupt context safe dev_kfree_skb_any() function. Previously, these callback handlers would call the interrupt unsafe version of dev_kfree_skb(). This has not presented an issue on Intel IOAT DMA engines as that driver utilizes tasklets rather than a hard interrupt handler, like the AMD PTDMA DMA driver. On AMD systems, a kernel WARNING message is encountered, which is being issued from skb_release_head_state() due to in_hardirq() being true. Besides the user visible WARNING from the kernel, the other symptom of this bug was that TCP/IP performance across the ntb_netdev interface was very poor, i.e. approximately an order of magnitude below what was expected. With the repair to use dev_kfree_skb_any(), kernel WARNINGs from skb_release_head_state() ceased and TCP/IP performance, as measured by iperf, was on par with expected results, approximately 20 Gb/s on AMD Milan based server. Note that this performance is comparable with Intel based servers.
Title ntb_netdev: Use dev_kfree_skb_any() in interrupt context
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 8:20 PM
Reserved
Oct 4, 2025, 3:13 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Oct 4, 2025, 4:15 PM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 9:17 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 4, 2025, 12:00 AM