Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2 mlx5e mlx5e_hv_vhca_stats_create uninitialized pointer

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$0-$5k0.47+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2 and classified as very critical. This impacts the function mlx5e_hv_vhca_stats_create of the component mlx5e. Performing a manipulation results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-72342. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2. This affects the function mlx5e_hv_vhca_stats_create of the component mlx5e. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Fix HV VHCA stats agent registration race mlx5e_hv_vhca_stats_create() registers the stats agent through mlx5_hv_vhca_agent_create(). The helper publishes the agent in hv_vhca->agents[type] under agents_lock and immediately schedules an asynchronous control invalidation on the HV VHCA workqueue before returning to mlx5e. The asynchronous invalidation invokes the control agent's invalidate callback, which reads the hypervisor control block and forwards the command to mlx5e_hv_vhca_stats_control(). That callback may either: - call cancel_delayed_work_sync(&priv->stats_agent.work), or - call queue_delayed_work(priv->wq, &sagent->work, sagent->delay). However, the delayed_work and priv->stats_agent.agent are only initialized after mlx5_hv_vhca_agent_create() returns to mlx5e: agent = mlx5_hv_vhca_agent_create(...); /* publish + invalidate */ ... priv->stats_agent.agent = agent; /* too late */ INIT_DELAYED_WORK(&priv->stats_agent.work, ...); /* too late */ If the asynchronous control path runs before the two assignments above, it can: - Operate on an uninitialized delayed_work whose timer.function is NULL. queue_delayed_work() calls add_timer() unconditionally, so when the timer expires the timer softirq invokes a NULL function pointer. - Re-initialize the timer later through INIT_DELAYED_WORK() while the timer is already enqueued in the timer wheel, corrupting the hlist (entry.pprev cleared while the previous bucket node still points at this entry). - When the worker eventually runs, mlx5e_hv_vhca_stats_work() reads sagent->agent (NULL) and dereferences it inside mlx5_hv_vhca_agent_write(). Fix this by: - Initializing priv->stats_agent.work before invoking mlx5_hv_vhca_agent_create(), so the work is always in a valid state when the control callback observes it. - Adding a struct mlx5_hv_vhca_agent **ctx_update out-parameter to mlx5_hv_vhca_agent_create(). The helper writes the agent pointer to *ctx_update before publishing into hv_vhca->agents[] and triggering the agents_update flow, so any callback subsequently invoked from that flow already sees a valid priv->stats_agent.agent. This avoids having the control callback participate in agent initialization. While at it, access priv->stats_agent.agent with READ_ONCE()/WRITE_ONCE() for the cross-CPU access with the worker, and clear priv->stats_agent.buf on the agent_create() failure path.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-72342 since 08/09/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. No form of authentication is needed for exploitation. 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 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b0fd6d3bb06182f19f3b59a53f57b5098b99048a/24c77044cdfcf5b8b2e9f3b620d8b9aa392d9add/e8fc3304cb67fb1d7d11ff9ef9abd5fb64e7e1d5/60fddda7207d81fea71463abd403f0b10f74f2e1/f5677797b094c3ec5fb350eb8ea7710b88a3d018/89b25b5f46f488ea3b29b3444864c76944c9075b is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Uninitialized pointer
CWE: CWE-824 / CWE-908
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc3
Patch: b0fd6d3bb06182f19f3b59a53f57b5098b99048a/24c77044cdfcf5b8b2e9f3b620d8b9aa392d9add/e8fc3304cb67fb1d7d11ff9ef9abd5fb64e7e1d5/60fddda7207d81fea71463abd403f0b10f74f2e1/f5677797b094c3ec5fb350eb8ea7710b88a3d018/89b25b5f46f488ea3b29b3444864c76944c9075b

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72342 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72342
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390729

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 14:31
Changes: 08/15/2026 14:31 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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