CVE-2026-68128 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 08/10/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ice: reject out-of-range ptype in ice_parser_profile_init
set_bit(rslt->ptype, prof->ptypes) operates on a DECLARE_BITMAP of ICE_FLOW_PTYPE_MAX (1024) bits. Nothing prevents a malicious VF from providing ptype >= 1024 through VIRTCHNL, resulting in a write past the end of the bitmap and a kernel page fault.
Reproduced with a custom kernel module injecting a crafted VIRTCHNL_OP_ADD_RSS_CFG on E810-C QSFP (8086:1592), FW 4.91 0x800214af 1.3909.0, ICE COMMS DDP 1.3.53.0, kernel 7.1.0-rc1.
crash_parser: ice_parser_profile_init @ ffffffffc0d61b60 crash_parser: setting ptype=0xffff (max valid=1023) crash_parser: calling ice_parser_profile_init -- expect OOB crash! BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 Oops: Oops: 0002 [#1] SMP NOPTI
CPU: 56 UID: 0 PID: 165011 Comm: insmod Kdump: loaded Tainted: G S U OE 7.1.0-rc1 #1 Hardware name: Intel Corporation S2600BPB/S2600BPB RIP: 0010:ice_parser_profile_init+0x2d/0x1d0 [ice]
Call Trace: <TASK> ? __pfx_ice_parser_profile_init+0x10/0x10 [ice]
crash_init+0x127/0xff0 [crash_parser]
do_one_initcall+0x45/0x310 do_init_module+0x64/0x270 init_module_from_file+0xcc/0xf0 idempotent_init_module+0x17b/0x280 __x64_sys_finit_module+0x6e/0xe0
Bail out early with -EINVAL when ptype is out of range.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/10/2026
The vulnerability described represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the Intel Ethernet Connection E810 driver implementation in the Linux kernel. This issue manifests specifically in the ice_parser_profile_init function where the driver fails to validate input parameters before performing bitmap operations. The flaw occurs when processing Virtchannel (VIRTCHNL) messages from virtual functions, allowing unprivileged users to manipulate the ptype parameter beyond acceptable bounds. The DECLARE_BITMAP structure used for profiling contains 1024 bits designated by ICE_FLOW_PTYPE_MAX constant, yet no range checking prevents malicious input values exceeding this limit.
The technical exploitation involves crafting a VIRTCHNL_OP_ADD_RSS_CFG message with an invalid ptype value of 0xffff, which exceeds the maximum valid range of 1023. When set_bit function processes this out-of-bounds value, it writes beyond the allocated bitmap boundaries causing a kernel page fault and subsequent system crash. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787: "Out-of-Bounds Write" and represents a classic case of insufficient input validation within kernel space operations. The attack vector leverages the virtual function interface which allows unprivileged users to inject malicious configuration parameters through the network driver's communication channel.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it can lead to complete system crashes and denial of service conditions in environments utilizing Intel E810 network adapters. The crash occurs during kernel module initialization when processing maliciously crafted input, making it particularly dangerous in production systems where network availability is critical. The vulnerability affects specific hardware configurations including E810-C QSFP devices with firmware versions 4.91 and corresponding driver components, presenting a targeted threat to data center and enterprise networking infrastructure. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.006 for kernel-mode exploitation and represents a privilege escalation pathway through improper input validation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing early input validation within the ice_parser_profile_init function to reject any ptype values exceeding the ICE_FLOW_PTYPE_MAX boundary. The fix requires adding a range check that returns -EINVAL when ptype values fall outside acceptable parameters before proceeding with bitmap operations. Additionally, system administrators should ensure all network drivers are updated to versions containing this patch, particularly in environments where virtual functions are actively used. The solution demonstrates proper defensive programming practices by validating inputs at the earliest possible stage of processing, preventing cascading failures that could compromise entire system stability and availability.