Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc4 virtio_net drivers/base/devres.c virtnet_set_queues allocation of resources

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc4. This issue affects the function virtnet_set_queues of the file drivers/base/devres.c of the component virtio_net. The manipulation leads to allocation of resources. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-23046. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc4. This issue affects the function virtnet_set_queues of the file drivers/base/devres.c of the component virtio_net. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a allocation of resources vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-770. The product allocates a reusable resource or group of resources on behalf of an actor without imposing any restrictions on the size or number of resources that can be allocated, in violation of the intended security policy for that actor. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: virtio_net: fix device mismatch in devm_kzalloc/devm_kfree Initial rss_hdr allocation uses virtio_device->device, but virtnet_set_queues() frees using net_device->device. This device mismatch causing below devres warning [ 3788.514041] ------------[ cut here ]------------ [ 3788.514044] WARNING: drivers/base/devres.c:1095 at devm_kfree+0x84/0x98, CPU#16: vdpa/1463 [ 3788.514054] Modules linked in: octep_vdpa virtio_net virtio_vdpa [last unloaded: virtio_vdpa] [ 3788.514064] CPU: 16 UID: 0 PID: 1463 Comm: vdpa Tainted: G W 6.18.0 #10 PREEMPT [ 3788.514067] Tainted: [W]=WARN [ 3788.514069] Hardware name: Marvell CN106XX board (DT) [ 3788.514071] pstate: 63400009 (nZCv daif +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) [ 3788.514074] pc : devm_kfree+0x84/0x98 [ 3788.514076] lr : devm_kfree+0x54/0x98 [ 3788.514079] sp : ffff800084e2f220 [ 3788.514080] x29: ffff800084e2f220 x28: ffff0003b2366000 x27: 000000000000003f [ 3788.514085] x26: 000000000000003f x25: ffff000106f17c10 x24: 0000000000000080 [ 3788.514089] x23: ffff00045bb8ab08 x22: ffff00045bb8a000 x21: 0000000000000018 [ 3788.514093] x20: ffff0004355c3080 x19: ffff00045bb8aa00 x18: 0000000000080000 [ 3788.514098] x17: 0000000000000040 x16: 000000000000001f x15: 000000000007ffff [ 3788.514102] x14: 0000000000000488 x13: 0000000000000005 x12: 00000000000fffff [ 3788.514106] x11: ffffffffffffffff x10: 0000000000000005 x9 : ffff800080c8c05c [ 3788.514110] x8 : ffff800084e2eeb8 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 000000000000003f [ 3788.514115] x5 : ffff8000831bafe0 x4 : ffff800080c8b010 x3 : ffff0004355c3080 [ 3788.514119] x2 : ffff0004355c3080 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 0000000000000000 [ 3788.514123] Call trace: [ 3788.514125] devm_kfree+0x84/0x98 (P) [ 3788.514129] virtnet_set_queues+0x134/0x2e8 [virtio_net] [ 3788.514135] virtnet_probe+0x9c0/0xe00 [virtio_net] [ 3788.514139] virtio_dev_probe+0x1e0/0x338 [ 3788.514144] really_probe+0xc8/0x3a0 [ 3788.514149] __driver_probe_device+0x84/0x170 [ 3788.514152] driver_probe_device+0x44/0x120 [ 3788.514155] __device_attach_driver+0xc4/0x168 [ 3788.514158] bus_for_each_drv+0x8c/0xf0 [ 3788.514161] __device_attach+0xa4/0x1c0 [ 3788.514164] device_initial_probe+0x1c/0x30 [ 3788.514168] bus_probe_device+0xb4/0xc0 [ 3788.514170] device_add+0x614/0x828 [ 3788.514173] register_virtio_device+0x214/0x258 [ 3788.514175] virtio_vdpa_probe+0xa0/0x110 [virtio_vdpa] [ 3788.514179] vdpa_dev_probe+0xa8/0xd8 [ 3788.514183] really_probe+0xc8/0x3a0 [ 3788.514186] __driver_probe_device+0x84/0x170 [ 3788.514189] driver_probe_device+0x44/0x120 [ 3788.514192] __device_attach_driver+0xc4/0x168 [ 3788.514195] bus_for_each_drv+0x8c/0xf0 [ 3788.514197] __device_attach+0xa4/0x1c0 [ 3788.514200] device_initial_probe+0x1c/0x30 [ 3788.514203] bus_probe_device+0xb4/0xc0 [ 3788.514206] device_add+0x614/0x828 [ 3788.514209] _vdpa_register_device+0x58/0x88 [ 3788.514211] octep_vdpa_dev_add+0x104/0x228 [octep_vdpa] [ 3788.514215] vdpa_nl_cmd_dev_add_set_doit+0x2d0/0x3c0 [ 3788.514218] genl_family_rcv_msg_doit+0xe4/0x158 [ 3788.514222] genl_rcv_msg+0x218/0x298 [ 3788.514225] netlink_rcv_skb+0x64/0x138 [ 3788.514229] genl_rcv+0x40/0x60 [ 3788.514233] netlink_unicast+0x32c/0x3b0 [ 3788.514237] netlink_sendmsg+0x170/0x3b8 [ 3788.514241] __sys_sendto+0x12c/0x1c0 [ 3788.514246] __arm64_sys_sendto+0x30/0x48 [ 3788.514249] invoke_syscall.constprop.0+0x58/0xf8 [ 3788.514255] do_el0_svc+0x48/0xd0 [ 3788.514259] el0_svc+0x48/0x210 [ 3788.514264] el0t_64_sync_handler+0xa0/0xe8 [ 3788.514268] el0t_64_sync+0x198/0x1a0 [ 3788.514271] ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Fix by using virtio_device->device consistently for allocation and deallocation

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-23046 since 01/13/2026. The exploitation is known to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297936 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23046), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.18.6 or 6.19-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a5e2d902f64c76169c771f584559c82b588090e3/acb4bc6e1ba34ae1a34a9334a1ce8474c909466e is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (297936) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0324). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Google Cloud Platform
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.19-rc1
• 6.19-rc2
• 6.19-rc3
• 6.19-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

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