Linux Kernel up to 6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7 Netdevsim Driver nsim_bpf_create_prog protection mechanism

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function nsim_bpf_create_prog of the component Netdevsim Driver. Performing a manipulation results in protection mechanism. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-23126. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7. This affects the function nsim_bpf_create_prog of the component Netdevsim Driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a protection mechanism vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-693. The product does not use or incorrectly uses a protection mechanism that provides sufficient defense against directed attacks against the product. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netdevsim: fix a race issue related to the operation on bpf_bound_progs list The netdevsim driver lacks a protection mechanism for operations on the bpf_bound_progs list. When the nsim_bpf_create_prog() performs list_add_tail, it is possible that nsim_bpf_destroy_prog() is simultaneously performs list_del. Concurrent operations on the list may lead to list corruption and trigger a kernel crash as follows: [ 417.290971] kernel BUG at lib/list_debug.c:62! [ 417.290983] invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI [ 417.290992] CPU: 10 PID: 168 Comm: kworker/10:1 Kdump: loaded Not tainted 6.19.0-rc5 #1 [ 417.291003] Hardware name: QEMU Standard PC (Q35 + ICH9, 2009), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2 04/01/2014 [ 417.291007] Workqueue: events bpf_prog_free_deferred [ 417.291021] RIP: 0010:__list_del_entry_valid_or_report+0xa7/0xc0 [ 417.291034] Code: a8 ff 0f 0b 48 89 fe 48 89 ca 48 c7 c7 48 a1 eb ae e8 ed fb a8 ff 0f 0b 48 89 fe 48 89 c2 48 c7 c7 80 a1 eb ae e8 d9 fb a8 ff <0f> 0b 48 89 d1 48 c7 c7 d0 a1 eb ae 48 89 f2 48 89 c6 e8 c2 fb a8 [ 417.291040] RSP: 0018:ffffb16a40807df8 EFLAGS: 00010246 [ 417.291046] RAX: 000000000000006d RBX: ffff8e589866f500 RCX: 0000000000000000 [ 417.291051] RDX: 0000000000000000 RSI: ffff8e59f7b23180 RDI: ffff8e59f7b23180 [ 417.291055] RBP: ffffb16a412c9000 R08: 0000000000000000 R09: 0000000000000003 [ 417.291059] R10: ffffb16a40807c80 R11: ffffffffaf9edce8 R12: ffff8e594427ac20 [ 417.291063] R13: ffff8e59f7b44780 R14: ffff8e58800b7a05 R15: 0000000000000000 [ 417.291074] FS: 0000000000000000(0000) GS:ffff8e59f7b00000(0000) knlGS:0000000000000000 [ 417.291079] CS: 0010 DS: 0000 ES: 0000 CR0: 0000000080050033 [ 417.291083] CR2: 00007fc4083efe08 CR3: 00000001c3626006 CR4: 0000000000770ee0 [ 417.291088] PKRU: 55555554 [ 417.291091] Call Trace: [ 417.291096] <TASK> [ 417.291103] nsim_bpf_destroy_prog+0x31/0x80 [netdevsim] [ 417.291154] __bpf_prog_offload_destroy+0x2a/0x80 [ 417.291163] bpf_prog_dev_bound_destroy+0x6f/0xb0 [ 417.291171] bpf_prog_free_deferred+0x18e/0x1a0 [ 417.291178] process_one_work+0x18a/0x3a0 [ 417.291188] worker_thread+0x27b/0x3a0 [ 417.291197] ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [ 417.291207] kthread+0xe5/0x120 [ 417.291214] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 417.291221] ret_from_fork+0x31/0x50 [ 417.291230] ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [ 417.291236] ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [ 417.291246] </TASK> Add a mutex lock, to prevent simultaneous addition and deletion operations on the list.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-23126 since 01/13/2026. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 03/19/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 299071 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23126), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.162, 6.6.122, 6.12.68 or 6.18.8 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3f560cfc7706029294132482fff5d1bc7884b70d/f1f9cfd2f46a73b7de2982d01be822eac3a0efaa/d77379ca82efcb2fe563359cc795027d680410db/68462ecc40ea8f780fb3c74ebfddd05506bb731b/b97d5eedf4976cc94321243be83b39efe81a0e15 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 vulnerability database at Tenable (299071). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 4.7
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Protection mechanism
CWE: CWE-693
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 299071
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23126

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.162/6.6.122/6.12.68/6.18.8
Patch: 3f560cfc7706029294132482fff5d1bc7884b70d/f1f9cfd2f46a73b7de2982d01be822eac3a0efaa/d77379ca82efcb2fe563359cc795027d680410db/68462ecc40ea8f780fb3c74ebfddd05506bb731b/b97d5eedf4976cc94321243be83b39efe81a0e15

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
02/14/2026 +32 days Advisory disclosed
02/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/19/2026 +33 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23126 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23126
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-346041

Entryinfo

Created: 02/14/2026 18:03
Updated: 03/19/2026 02:47
Changes: 02/14/2026 18:03 (59), 02/14/2026 19:23 (1), 02/15/2026 02:38 (2), 02/19/2026 09:18 (1), 03/19/2026 02:47 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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