Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc5 qede qede_recovery_handler deadlock

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 7.2 | $0-$5k | 0.00 |
Summary
A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.150/6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5. Affected by this vulnerability is the function qede_recovery_handler of the component qede. Executing a manipulation can lead to deadlock.
This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-74523. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit.
Details
A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.150/6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5. This vulnerability affects the function qede_recovery_handler of the component qede. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a deadlock vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-833. The product contains multiple threads or executable segments that are waiting for each other to release a necessary lock, resulting in deadlock. As an impact it is known to affect availability. CVE summarizes:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: qede: sync udp_tunnel ports outside qede_lock in the recovery path A TX timeout on a qede NIC that has VXLAN/GENEVE tunnel ports configured wedges the rtnetlink control plane of the whole machine: NETDEV WATCHDOG: ens6f1 (qede): transmit queue 2 timed out 10226 ms [qede_tx_timeout:586(ens6f1)]TX timeout on queue 2! [qede_recovery_handler:2665(ens6f0)]Starting a recovery process The recovery path deadlocks on the driver's own mutex: qede_sp_task rtnl_lock() mutex_lock(&edev->qede_lock) <- taken qede_recovery_handler qede_load udp_tunnel_nic_reset_ntf __udp_tunnel_nic_device_sync info->sync_table == qede_udp_tunnel_sync mutex_lock(&edev->qede_lock) <- same task: deadlock The mutex is not recursive, so the kworker blocks on itself with rtnl_lock held, and neither lock is ever released. Every task that calls rtnl_lock() afterwards (ip, ovs-vswitchd, lldpad, IPv6 addrconf, sshd) blocks forever while the node still answers ping. In a vmcore from an affected production node rtnl_mutex.owner decodes to the very kworker blocked at the innermost mutex_lock() above. Re-sync the tunnel ports from qede_sp_task() after the internal lock is dropped, still under rtnl_lock as the udp_tunnel API requires. This mirrors qede_open(), which calls udp_tunnel_nic_reset_ntf() under rtnl without the internal lock. qede_recovery_handler() now returns whether it has successfully reloaded an open device, and the caller re-syncs the ports only in that case. This keeps the old gating exactly: a device that was down or a failed recovery returns false, as those paths never reached the udp_tunnel_nic_reset_ntf() call before either. This was the only user of the qede_lock()/qede_unlock() helpers, so remove them.
The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-74523 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 08/16/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.
The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 335867 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-74523), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.
Upgrading to version 6.6.151, 6.12.103, 6.18.44, 7.1.8 or 7.2-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e382a4efeeae6555b95d9ff336cf3094ee7d336b/4626df3f63c9185efba5750fe76ac01ab3351bae/e51becb8f3377a377171ed5bf0082b96e22e6292/6f1ef8170d3d8ad9319aa01347945dcdf5cc4f27/451c9075d6c53f2438d110addbeeeea6fac18567 is able to eliminate this problem.
The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (335867). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 6.6.150
- 6.12.102
- 6.18.0
- 6.18.1
- 6.18.2
- 6.18.3
- 6.18.4
- 6.18.5
- 6.18.6
- 6.18.7
- 6.18.8
- 6.18.9
- 6.18.10
- 6.18.11
- 6.18.12
- 6.18.13
- 6.18.14
- 6.18.15
- 6.18.16
- 6.18.17
- 6.18.18
- 6.18.19
- 6.18.20
- 6.18.21
- 6.18.22
- 6.18.23
- 6.18.24
- 6.18.25
- 6.18.26
- 6.18.27
- 6.18.28
- 6.18.29
- 6.18.30
- 6.18.31
- 6.18.32
- 6.18.33
- 6.18.34
- 6.18.35
- 6.18.36
- 6.18.37
- 6.18.38
- 6.18.39
- 6.18.40
- 6.18.41
- 6.18.42
- 6.18.43
- 7.1.0
- 7.1.1
- 7.1.2
- 7.1.3
- 7.1.4
- 7.1.5
- 7.1.6
- 7.1.7
- 7.2-rc1
- 7.2-rc2
- 7.2-rc3
- 7.2-rc4
- 7.2-rc5
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: DeadlockCWE: CWE-833 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
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Nessus ID: 335867
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-74523
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8/7.2-rc6
Patch: e382a4efeeae6555b95d9ff336cf3094ee7d336b/4626df3f63c9185efba5750fe76ac01ab3351bae/e51becb8f3377a377171ed5bf0082b96e22e6292/6f1ef8170d3d8ad9319aa01347945dcdf5cc4f27/451c9075d6c53f2438d110addbeeeea6fac18567
Timeline
08/15/2026 Advisory disclosed08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 VulDB entry created
08/16/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-74523 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74523
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390808
Entry
Created: 08/15/2026 15:20Updated: 08/16/2026 22:45
Changes: 08/15/2026 15:20 (59), 08/16/2026 22:45 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
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