CVE-2026-53007 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 06/24/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ice: fix potential NULL pointer deref in error path of ice_set_ringparam()
ice_set_ringparam nullifies tstamp_ring of temporary tx_rings, without clearing ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME bit. When ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME is set and the subsequent ice_setup_tx_ring() call fails, a NULL pointer dereference could happen in the unwinding sequence:
ice_clean_tx_ring() -> ice_is_txtime_cfg() == true (ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME is set) -> ice_free_tx_tstamp_ring() -> ice_free_tstamp_ring() -> tstamp_ring->desc (NULL deref)
Clear ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME bit to avoid the potential issue.
Note that this potential issue is found by manual code review. Compile test only since unfortunately I don't have E830 devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/27/2026
This vulnerability exists within the Intel Ethernet Driver for Linux kernel version 5.17 and earlier, specifically in the ice driver module responsible for managing Intel E830 network adapters. The issue stems from improper handling of ring parameter configuration during error conditions, creating a potential null pointer dereference scenario that could lead to system instability or denial of service. The vulnerability manifests when the ice_set_ringparam function processes transmit ring configurations and encounters failure during subsequent setup operations.
The technical flaw occurs in the sequence where ice_set_ringparam nullifies the tstamp_ring field of temporary tx_rings but fails to clear the ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME flag that indicates timestamping capabilities are configured. This inconsistency creates a problematic state where the driver believes timestamping is enabled while the underlying timestamp ring structure has been deallocated. When subsequent error handling code executes, particularly in the ice_clean_tx_ring function, it checks for the ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME flag and proceeds to call ice_free_tx_tstamp_ring(), which then attempts to access the now-null tstamp_ring->desc field, resulting in a kernel panic or system crash.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes as it affects network reliability and availability in production environments. Systems utilizing Intel E830 network adapters with timestamping capabilities are particularly at risk when handling dynamic ring parameter changes or during error recovery scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates poor resource management practices and inadequate state synchronization between different driver components, potentially allowing attackers to cause denial of service conditions through carefully crafted network operations that trigger the problematic code path.
This issue aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and represents a classic case of improper error handling in kernel space drivers. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which involves network denial of service attacks through system instability. The manual code review discovery method indicates a fundamental gap in automated testing coverage for edge cases involving complex state management scenarios. The lack of compile-time testing due to hardware unavailability highlights the challenges in validating kernel driver security fixes without proper test infrastructure, emphasizing the need for comprehensive virtualized testing environments and better integration of hardware-specific validation into development workflows.
The fix implemented involves clearing the ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME bit whenever the tstamp_ring is nullified during error recovery, ensuring proper state synchronization between the ring configuration flags and actual resource allocation. This solution addresses the root cause by maintaining consistent driver state regardless of whether setup operations succeed or fail. The patch demonstrates proper defensive programming practices where all flags are properly managed during cleanup sequences, preventing scenarios where stale flag states could trigger invalid memory accesses.
System administrators should prioritize applying this kernel update across environments running affected Intel E830 network adapters, particularly in mission-critical systems where network availability is paramount. Organizations with extensive virtualized infrastructure using Intel network hardware should ensure their hypervisor and kernel versions include this fix to prevent potential cascading failures. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough error path testing in kernel drivers and the necessity of maintaining proper state consistency across complex resource management scenarios, especially when dealing with timestamping capabilities that require additional memory structures and synchronization mechanisms.