CVE-2026-45907

net/mlx5e: Fix deadlocks between devlink and netdev instance locks

Published May 27, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/mlx5e: Fix deadlocks between devlink and netdev instance locks

In the mentioned "Fixes" commit, various work tasks triggering devlink
health reporter recovery were switched to use netdev_trylock to protect
against concurrent tear down of the channels being recovered. But this
had the side effect of introducing potential deadlocks because of
incorrect lock ordering.

The correct lock order is described by the init flow:
probe_one -> mlx5_init_one (acquires devlink lock)
-> mlx5_init_one_devl_locked -> mlx5_register_device
-> mlx5_rescan_drivers_locked -...-> mlx5e_probe -> _mlx5e_probe
-> register_netdev (acquires rtnl lock)
-> register_netdevice (acquires netdev lock)
=> devlink lock -> rtnl lock -> netdev lock.

But in the current recovery flow, the order is wrong:
mlx5e_tx_err_cqe_work (acquires netdev lock)
-> mlx5e_reporter_tx_err_cqe -> mlx5e_health_report
-> devlink_health_report (acquires devlink lock => boom!)
-> devlink_health_reporter_recover
-> mlx5e_tx_reporter_recover -> mlx5e_tx_reporter_recover_from_ctx
-> mlx5e_tx_reporter_err_cqe_recover

The same pattern exists in:
mlx5e_reporter_rx_timeout
mlx5e_reporter_tx_ptpsq_unhealthy
mlx5e_reporter_tx_timeout

Fix these by moving the netdev_trylock calls from the work handlers
lower in the call stack, in the respective recovery functions, where
they are actually necessary.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories available
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-667
CWE-767
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-833
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-667
CWE-767
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Fix deadlocks between devlink and netdev instance locks In the mentioned "Fixes" commit, various work tasks triggering devlink health reporter recovery were switched to use netdev_trylock to protect against concurrent tear down of the channels being recovered. But this had the side effect of introducing potential deadlocks because of incorrect lock ordering. The correct lock order is described by the init flow: probe_one -> mlx5_init_one (acquires devlink lock) -> mlx5_init_one_devl_locked -> mlx5_register_device -> mlx5_rescan_drivers_locked -...-> mlx5e_probe -> _mlx5e_probe -> register_netdev (acquires rtnl lock) -> register_netdevice (acquires netdev lock) => devlink lock -> rtnl lock -> netdev lock. But in the current recovery flow, the order is wrong: mlx5e_tx_err_cqe_work (acquires netdev lock) -> mlx5e_reporter_tx_err_cqe -> mlx5e_health_report -> devlink_health_report (acquires devlink lock => boom!) -> devlink_health_reporter_recover -> mlx5e_tx_reporter_recover -> mlx5e_tx_reporter_recover_from_ctx -> mlx5e_tx_reporter_err_cqe_recover The same pattern exists in: mlx5e_reporter_rx_timeout mlx5e_reporter_tx_ptpsq_unhealthy mlx5e_reporter_tx_timeout Fix these by moving the netdev_trylock calls from the work handlers lower in the call stack, in the respective recovery functions, where they are actually necessary.
Title net/mlx5e: Fix deadlocks between devlink and netdev instance locks
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
May 27, 2026, 12:17 PM
Reserved
May 13, 2026, 3:03 PM
Status
Undergoing Analysis
Published
May 27, 2026, 2:17 PM
Modified
Jun 24, 2026, 4:27 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
May 27, 2026, 12:00 AM