CVE-2026-23104 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ice: fix devlink reload call trace
Commit 4da71a77fc3b ("ice: read internal temperature sensor") introduced internal temperature sensor reading via HWMON. ice_hwmon_init() was added to ice_init_feature() and ice_hwmon_exit() was added to ice_remove(). As a result if devlink reload is used to reinit the device and then the driver is removed, a call trace can occur.
BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffffffffc0fd4b5d Call Trace: string+0x48/0xe0 vsnprintf+0x1f9/0x650 sprintf+0x62/0x80 name_show+0x1f/0x30 dev_attr_show+0x19/0x60
The call trace repeats approximately every 10 minutes when system monitoring tools (e.g., sadc) attempt to read the orphaned hwmon sysfs attributes that reference freed module memory.
The sequence is: 1. Driver load, ice_hwmon_init() gets called from ice_init_feature() 2. Devlink reload down, flow does not call ice_remove() 3. Devlink reload up, ice_hwmon_init() gets called from ice_init_feature() resulting in a second instance 4. Driver unload, ice_hwmon_exit() called from ice_remove() leaving the first hwmon instance orphaned with dangling pointer
Fix this by moving ice_hwmon_exit() from ice_remove() to ice_deinit_features() to ensure proper cleanup symmetry with ice_hwmon_init().
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2026-23104 represents a critical memory management issue within the Intel Ethernet Controller (ice) driver for Linux kernel versions that incorporate the problematic commit 4da71a77fc3b. This flaw specifically affects the handling of hardware monitoring (hwmon) attributes during device reload operations through devlink functionality, creating a scenario where memory references become invalid and lead to system instability. The vulnerability manifests as a page fault when system monitoring tools attempt to read orphaned hwmon sysfs attributes that point to freed memory locations, demonstrating a classic dangling pointer problem that violates fundamental memory safety principles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from an asymmetry in the driver's initialization and cleanup routines. When the ice driver initializes, ice_hwmon_init() is invoked from ice_init_feature() to establish hardware monitoring capabilities through the HWMON subsystem. However, during devlink reload operations, the cleanup sequence becomes problematic because ice_remove() is not called during the reload down phase, yet ice_hwmon_init() is called again during reload up. This creates a scenario where the original hwmon instance remains in memory while references to it become invalid, leading to the call trace that repeatedly occurs every 10 minutes when monitoring tools access these orphaned attributes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability to potential service disruption and data corruption scenarios. System monitoring tools such as sadc that regularly poll hwmon sysfs attributes can trigger the page fault condition, causing system crashes or kernel oops messages that may result in complete system hang or reboot. This issue particularly affects enterprise server environments where continuous monitoring is critical, and where devlink reload operations are frequently used for driver updates or configuration changes without full device removal. The vulnerability creates a persistent condition that can accumulate over time, making system reliability increasingly compromised as monitoring tools continue to access the invalid memory references.
The fix implemented addresses this issue by moving ice_hwmon_exit() from the ice_remove() function to ice_deinit_features(), ensuring proper cleanup symmetry with ice_hwmon_init(). This approach follows the principle of symmetric resource management where every initialization function has a corresponding deinitialization function called at the appropriate lifecycle stage. The solution aligns with CWE-415: Double Free and CWE-416: Use After Free categories, as it prevents the use of freed memory references through proper cleanup ordering. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1489: Service Stop and T1070.004: File Deletion, as it involves improper handling of system resources during service reload operations. The fix ensures that hwmon resources are properly cleaned up regardless of whether the device is being removed entirely or reinitialized through devlink reload, maintaining memory integrity and preventing the call trace conditions that would otherwise occur during system monitoring operations.