CVE-2026-64122

Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete

Use-After-Free in Linux Kernel mlx5_core Driver

Publication date: 2026-07-19

Last updated on: 2026-08-13

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5e: Fix use-after-free in mlx5e_tx_reporter_timeout_recover mlx5e_tx_reporter_timeout_recover() accesses sq->netdev after mlx5e_safe_reopen_channels() has torn down and freed the channel (and its embedded SQs). Replace the three sq->netdev references with priv->netdev which is safe because priv outlives channel teardown. The netdev_err() call already used priv->netdev for this reason; make the trylock/unlock and health_channel_eq_recover calls consistent. This fixes the following KASAN splat: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in mlx5e_tx_reporter_timeout_recover+0x1dd/0x360 [mlx5_core] Read of size 8 at addr ffff889860ed0b28 by task kworker/u113:2/5277 Call Trace: mlx5e_tx_reporter_timeout_recover+0x1dd/0x360 [mlx5_core] devlink_health_reporter_recover+0xa2/0x150 devlink_health_report+0x254/0x7c0 mlx5e_reporter_tx_timeout+0x297/0x380 [mlx5_core] mlx5e_tx_timeout_work+0x109/0x170 [mlx5_core] process_one_work+0x677/0xf20 worker_thread+0x51f/0xd90 kthread+0x3a5/0x810 ret_from_fork+0x208/0x400 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30

CVSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published

2026-07-19

Last Modified

2026-08-13

Generated

2026-08-29

AI Q&A

2026-07-19

EPSS Evaluated

2026-08-28

NVD

CVE-2026-64122

EUVD

EUVD-2026-45807

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	From 6.18.14 (inc) to 6.18.34 (exc)
linux	linux_kernel	From 6.19.4 (inc) to 7.0.11 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-416	The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mlx5e driver. It occurs when mlx5e_tx_reporter_timeout_recover() tries to access sq->netdev after the channel and its embedded SQs have been torn down and freed by mlx5e_safe_reopen_channels(). The fix replaces sq->netdev with priv->netdev to avoid accessing freed memory.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's mlx5e driver and may not have direct detection commands. Monitor kernel logs for KASAN splats or mlx5_core errors. Check for use-after-free errors in mlx5e_tx_reporter_timeout_recover using dmesg or journalctl.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability could cause system instability or crashes due to memory corruption. It may lead to kernel panics or unexpected behavior in systems using Mellanox ConnectX network adapters with the affected driver.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability is a use-after-free flaw in the Linux kernel's mlx5e driver that could lead to memory corruption or crashes. While it does not directly impact data privacy or security controls required by GDPR or HIPAA, such kernel-level vulnerabilities could potentially be exploited to bypass security mechanisms or cause denial-of-service conditions, indirectly affecting compliance by disrupting systems handling sensitive data.

Mitigation Strategies

Update the Linux kernel to a patched version that includes the fix for CVE-2026-64122. If immediate patching is not possible, consider disabling the mlx5e driver or related network interfaces until the update is applied.

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