CVE-2026-98562

net: libwx: fix races in Tx timestamp handling

Published Oct 18, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: libwx: fix races in Tx timestamp handling

wx->ptp_tx_skb is shared between the Tx path, the PTP auxiliary
worker and the timestamp cleanup paths. The
WX_STATE_PTP_TX_IN_PROGRESS bit prevents multiple Tx paths from
submitting timestamp requests, but does not serialize the worker
against cleanup.

As a result, wx_ptp_clear_tx_timestamp() can free an skb after
wx_ptp_tx_hwtstamp_work() has obtained its pointer. The worker may
then pass the freed skb to skb_tstamp_tx() and release the same
reference again.

The cleanup path may also clear the in-progress bit while the worker
is still processing the old skb. This allows the Tx path to publish a
new skb which the worker can subsequently overwrite with NULL,
leaking its reference.

Add a dedicated spinlock to protect publication and consumption of
the Tx timestamp skb. Detach the skb and clear the in-progress bit
while holding the lock, then deliver the timestamp and release the skb
after dropping it. Use the same locked cleanup in the quiesce path,
but keep the detach there free of register accesses: quiesce runs
during PCIe error recovery, where MMIO is not reliable, and it
deliberately did not touch the device before. The lock is taken with
interrupts disabled, because netpoll can call ndo_start_xmit() with
hard interrupts already off.

When handling a Tx DMA mapping failure, keep the transmit path
reference until after comparing the skb under the lock. This prevents
skb address reuse from making the error path mistake a newer timestamp
request for the failed one.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-366
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-416
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: libwx: fix races in Tx timestamp handling wx->ptp_tx_skb is shared between the Tx path, the PTP auxiliary worker and the timestamp cleanup paths. The WX_STATE_PTP_TX_IN_PROGRESS bit prevents multiple Tx paths from submitting timestamp requests, but does not serialize the worker against cleanup. As a result, wx_ptp_clear_tx_timestamp() can free an skb after wx_ptp_tx_hwtstamp_work() has obtained its pointer. The worker may then pass the freed skb to skb_tstamp_tx() and release the same reference again. The cleanup path may also clear the in-progress bit while the worker is still processing the old skb. This allows the Tx path to publish a new skb which the worker can subsequently overwrite with NULL, leaking its reference. Add a dedicated spinlock to protect publication and consumption of the Tx timestamp skb. Detach the skb and clear the in-progress bit while holding the lock, then deliver the timestamp and release the skb after dropping it. Use the same locked cleanup in the quiesce path, but keep the detach there free of register accesses: quiesce runs during PCIe error recovery, where MMIO is not reliable, and it deliberately did not touch the device before. The lock is taken with interrupts disabled, because netpoll can call ndo_start_xmit() with hard interrupts already off. When handling a Tx DMA mapping failure, keep the transmit path reference until after comparing the skb under the lock. This prevents skb address reuse from making the error path mistake a newer timestamp request for the failed one.
Title net: libwx: fix races in Tx timestamp handling
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, 9:21 AM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 18, 2026, 4:17 PM
Modified
Oct 19, 2026, 10:19 AM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 18, 2026, 12:00 AM