CVE-2026-97979: Linux kernel · ice: add missing xa_destroy for sched_node_ids
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in f5463bc124c0d6f922e272336584730c5c61c4f1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f5463bc124c0d6f922e272336584730c5c61c4f1, d6f38fb12069fb1edf762962b5fcf3f42d643b47, c075a91fe5762d314e6e182d37d29cf874bd314a +4
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Sep 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
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: add missing xa_destroy for sched_node_ids Commit 16dfa49406bc ("ice: Introduce new parameters in ice_sched_node") added a sched_node_ids xarray to the port info structure, but never called xa_destroy on it. Since xarrays can allocate internal memory, this can result in a memory leak even if every element in the xarray has been removed. The xarray is currently embedded in the port_info structure. This appears to have been done because its use is within functions that take the port_info as a primary argument. However, this complicates managing the lifecycle of the field. The port_info structure is allocated in ice_init_hw() using devm, and it is not released until the devm cleanup when the driver is unloaded. The ice_init_hw() function is called in many places, including devlink reload, and possibly during DDP load after updating the Tx scheduler layout. Adding a call of xa_destroy to the ice_deinit_hw() causes Sashiko to raise multiple concerns due to potential ordering issues and possible ways that port_info could be a dangling reference. To handle this, move the sched_node_ids out of port_info and into the hw structure. All users of the array already have a pointer to hw anyways, and there is only one sched_node_ids per adapter. While here, remove the overly verbose comment explaining the nature of the sched_node_ids xarray. Add the missing xa_destroy to the cleanup path and to ice_deinit_hw(), ensuring that we properly release the xarray memory. This was caught by Sashiko during development of unrelated code.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/09a7cdf8fffb065a8aa30cfa604ff4a65cbf04c9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c075a91fe5762d314e6e182d37d29cf874bd314a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/44cdd6b7e036303f7fecf841cf23c05a4a4faf2d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f5463bc124c0d6f922e272336584730c5c61c4f1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d6f38fb12069fb1edf762962b5fcf3f42d643b47 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/53432c4c3e869076350aef319534431af8ba99c1 (opens in a new tab)