CVE-2026-53009
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ice: fix double-free of tx_buf skb
If ice_tso() or ice_tx_csum() fail, the error path in ice_xmit_frame_ring() frees the skb, but the 'first' tx_buf still points to it and is marked as valid (ICE_TX_BUF_SKB). 'next_to_use' remains unchanged, so the potential problem will likely fix itself when the next packet is transmitted and the tx_buf gets overwritten. But if there is no next packet and the interface is brought down instead, ice_clean_tx_ring() -> ice_unmap_and_free_tx_buf() will find the tx_buf and free the skb for the second time.
Read full descriptionShow less
The fix is to reset the tx_buf type to ICE_TX_BUF_EMPTY in the error path, so that ice_unmap_and_free_tx_buf(). Move the initialization of 'first' up, to ensure it's already valid in case we hit the linearization error path.
The bug was spotted by AI while I had it looking for something else. It also proposed an initial version of the patch.
I reproduced the bug and tested the fix by adding code to inject failures, on a build with KASAN.
I looked for similar bugs in related Intel drivers and did not find any.
CVSS
- Version: 3.1
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
- Base score: 7.8
Exploitation probability (EPSS)
- Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days: 0.19%
- Percentile among all scored CVEs: 8
- Score date: 10/3/2026
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).
🎯 ATT&CK techniques
How this vulnerability is exploited and what the attacker gains, in MITRE ATT&CK terms.
- Exploitation
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalationprivilege escalation85 %
Acceso local sin interacción (AV:L, PR:L, UI:N) permite escalada; double-free en kernel causa DoS/crash (T1499.004) y potencial ejecución (CWE-415/416 con C=H, I=H, A=H sugieren corrupción de memoria en modo kernel).
Inferred by our analysis agent from the official description, CVSS vector and CWE, and checked by a supervisor. May contain errors.
🛡️ ATT&CK mitigations that cover these techniques
Affected technologies (2)
CWEs
- CWE-415
- CWE-416
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a303baa715e6b78d6a406aaf335f87ff35acfcd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4c08fc2119ef0281cfa2cee007acf0a251be55f2
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:42919
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54246
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:54247
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65711
- https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:65712
- https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-53009
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2492390
- https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-53009.json
Raw JSON (NVD)
Show
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