Linux Kernel up to 6.18.44/7.1.8 mlx5e dynamic_queue_limits.c mlx5e_activate_txqsq denial of service

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
7.2	$0-$5k	0.86-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.44/7.1.8. It has been classified as critical. This impacts the function mlx5e_activate_txqsq of the file lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c of the component mlx5e. The manipulation leads to denial of service. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-74698. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.44/7.1.8. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function mlx5e_activate_txqsq of the file lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c of the component mlx5e. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a denial of service vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-404. The product does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: fix BQL reset on SQ re-activation mlx5e_queue_start() deactivates and re-activates all channels but closes only the queue being restarted. mlx5e_activate_txqsq() then unconditionally calls netdev_tx_reset_queue(), zeroing the BQL counters of channels that kept their in-flight TX WQEs. The next completion then over-charges and trips the BUG_ON() in dql_completed(): kernel BUG at lib/dynamic_queue_limits.c:99! RIP: 0010:dql_completed+0x23d/0x280 Call Trace: <IRQ> mlx5e_poll_tx_cq+0x668/0xa60 mlx5e_napi_poll+0x5b/0x7b0 net_rx_action+0x15a/0x580 Reset BQL only when the SQ has no bytes in flight (sq->cc == sq->pc). In the case that reset is skipped, the outstanding WQEs will eventually complete and rebalance the dql. The dql->limit is carried across the reset.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-74698 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful 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 08/22/2026). MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1499 for this issue.

Upgrading to version 6.18.45 or 7.1.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 88664c48d7d1eca8e1ac92da85c89c26af741cf1/d2897717cd222e575599d903d885c48602699800/e7386770be1bf810bcd6af39d1e4bfeab3408430 is able to eliminate this problem.

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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
• 6.18.6
• 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
• 6.18.44
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4
• 7.1.5
• 7.1.6
• 7.1.7
• 7.1.8

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Denial of service
CWE: CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.45/7.1.9
Patch: 88664c48d7d1eca8e1ac92da85c89c26af741cf1/d2897717cd222e575599d903d885c48602699800/e7386770be1bf810bcd6af39d1e4bfeab3408430

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/22/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74698 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74698
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-394469

Entryinfo

Created: 08/22/2026 18:55
Changes: 08/22/2026 18:55 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Discussion

Do you need the next level of professionalism?

Upgrade your account now!