CVE-2026-98014

net/mlx5: E-Switch, prevent mc_list repopulation during vport disable

Published Sep 25, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.0 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net/mlx5: E-Switch, prevent mc_list repopulation during vport disable

In mlx5_esw_vport_disable(), move esw_apply_vport_rx_mode() ahead
of esw_vport_change_handle_locked() so vport->allmulti_rule is
NULL before the change handler observes it.

During FW-fatal recovery the disable runs while dev->state ==
INTERNAL_ERROR. The promisc query inside esw_update_vport_rx_mode()
fails and returns early, leaving vport->allmulti_rule intact, so
esw_update_vport_mc_promisc() runs and adds MLX5_ACTION_ADD entries
to vport->mc_list whose flow rules are then installed in the FDB
by esw_add_mc_addr(). esw_destroy_legacy_table() tears down the
FDB with those refs still held, corrupting the sub-tree and
leaving dangling flow_rule pointers in vport->mc_list.

Two-stage failure on `echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/<bdf>/reset`:

refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
tree_put_node+0xef/0x110 [mlx5_core]
clean_tree+0x44/0xd0 [mlx5_core] (x5)
mlx5_fs_core_cleanup+0x57/0x1c0 [mlx5_core]
mlx5_unload+0x65/0xd0 [mlx5_core]
... mlx5_health_try_recover

BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: 0000000003000055
down_write+0x1c/0x60
mlx5_del_flow_rules+0x33/0x1f0 [mlx5_core]
esw_del_mc_addr+0x7b/0x170 [mlx5_core]
esw_apply_vport_addr_list+0x56/0xf0 [mlx5_core]
esw_vport_change_handle_locked+0x28b/0x310 [mlx5_core]
mlx5_esw_vport_enable+0x270/0x4a0 [mlx5_core]
... mlx5_load ... mlx5_health_try_recover

esw_apply_vport_rx_mode(false, false) clears vport->allmulti_rule
via its local state machine even when the FW del fails. With the
rule NULL the !IS_ERR_OR_NULL(allmulti_rule) gate in the change
handler closes, no rules are installed during disable, and the
reload starts with a clean mc_list.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4817-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4841-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6528-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8961-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9029-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-825
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
Weaknesses CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5: E-Switch, prevent mc_list repopulation during vport disable In mlx5_esw_vport_disable(), move esw_apply_vport_rx_mode() ahead of esw_vport_change_handle_locked() so vport->allmulti_rule is NULL before the change handler observes it. During FW-fatal recovery the disable runs while dev->state == INTERNAL_ERROR. The promisc query inside esw_update_vport_rx_mode() fails and returns early, leaving vport->allmulti_rule intact, so esw_update_vport_mc_promisc() runs and adds MLX5_ACTION_ADD entries to vport->mc_list whose flow rules are then installed in the FDB by esw_add_mc_addr(). esw_destroy_legacy_table() tears down the FDB with those refs still held, corrupting the sub-tree and leaving dangling flow_rule pointers in vport->mc_list. Two-stage failure on `echo 1 > /sys/bus/pci/devices/<bdf>/reset`: refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. tree_put_node+0xef/0x110 [mlx5_core] clean_tree+0x44/0xd0 [mlx5_core] (x5) mlx5_fs_core_cleanup+0x57/0x1c0 [mlx5_core] mlx5_unload+0x65/0xd0 [mlx5_core] ... mlx5_health_try_recover BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: 0000000003000055 down_write+0x1c/0x60 mlx5_del_flow_rules+0x33/0x1f0 [mlx5_core] esw_del_mc_addr+0x7b/0x170 [mlx5_core] esw_apply_vport_addr_list+0x56/0xf0 [mlx5_core] esw_vport_change_handle_locked+0x28b/0x310 [mlx5_core] mlx5_esw_vport_enable+0x270/0x4a0 [mlx5_core] ... mlx5_load ... mlx5_health_try_recover esw_apply_vport_rx_mode(false, false) clears vport->allmulti_rule via its local state machine even when the FW del fails. With the rule NULL the !IS_ERR_OR_NULL(allmulti_rule) gate in the change handler closes, no rules are installed during disable, and the reload starts with a clean mc_list.
Title net/mlx5: E-Switch, prevent mc_list repopulation during vport disable
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
Oct 19, 2026, 9:12 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:19 AM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 25, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:17 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Sep 25, 2026, 12:00 AM