CVE-2026-99043: Linux kernel · ice: fix metadata_dst refcount handling on representor teardown
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 28 Oct 2026, 01:44 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 23 Oct 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=stonkingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available that replaces the incorrect metadata_dst_free() call with dst_release() to properly manage reference counts. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include this correction. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ice driver involves improper reference count handling of metadata_dst objects during representor teardown. The flaw occurs because metadata_dst_free() is called directly, freeing memory without checking reference counts, potentially leading to use-after-free conditions when packets still hold references. This has been fixed by replacing metadata_dst_free() with dst_release(), which correctly manages reference counts and frees memory only when all references are dropped.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-99043 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-99043 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f263235651775f93c15d90c9f25c3f4a4ef6512 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/58858b8f14803a7eeac297b3ce20f3b21bf2ff66 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e4d20db5179e83a4948927bc39e489a9a83256d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f5544f53f1e58ea8a49fb9f9158d5793b9205b0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/beb05f484a1e4a5a66e3678e4b7f3147f651c080 (opens in a new tab)