CVE-2026-53009: Linux kernel · ice: fix double-free of tx_buf skb
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in eb6cf492ae991e40e1e5b2d3f32ec06e9cc678db : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Total control over the software or total information disclosure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-16.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in eb6cf492ae991e40e1e5b2d3f32ec06e9cc678db, 359906450690a1d70545220bde82ba74f3fd80f8, 910e498613d5bf4cbe5f298c2613666c38679fab +2
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 Jun 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: fix double-free of tx_buf skb If ice_tso() or ice_tx_csum() fail, the error path in ice_xmit_frame_ring() frees the skb, but the 'first' tx_buf still points to it and is marked as valid (ICE_TX_BUF_SKB). 'next_to_use' remains unchanged, so the potential problem will likely fix itself when the next packet is transmitted and the tx_buf gets overwritten. But if there is no next packet and the interface is brought down instead, ice_clean_tx_ring() -> ice_unmap_and_free_tx_buf() will find the tx_buf and free the skb for the second time. The fix is to reset the tx_buf type to ICE_TX_BUF_EMPTY in the error path, so that ice_unmap_and_free_tx_buf(). Move the initialization of 'first' up, to ensure it's already valid in case we hit the linearization error path. The bug was spotted by AI while I had it looking for something else. It also proposed an initial version of the patch. I reproduced the bug and tested the fix by adding code to inject failures, on a build with KASAN. I looked for similar bugs in related Intel drivers and did not find any.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/359906450690a1d70545220bde82ba74f3fd80f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/eb6cf492ae991e40e1e5b2d3f32ec06e9cc678db (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/910e498613d5bf4cbe5f298c2613666c38679fab (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c08fc2119ef0281cfa2cee007acf0a251be55f2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a303baa715e6b78d6a406aaf335f87ff35acfcd (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-53009 (opens in a new tab)
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2492390 (opens in a new tab)
- security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-53009.json (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:42919 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65712 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54246 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65711 (opens in a new tab)
- access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54247 (opens in a new tab)