Unscored severity · published Oct 23, 2026
CVE-2026-99043
ice: fix metadata_dst refcount handling on representor teardown
New
–
CVSS
0.2%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: fix metadata_dst refcount handling on representor teardown ice_eswitch_release_repr() uses metadata_dst_free() to release the representor's metadata_dst. metadata_dst_free() directly frees the underlying memory without checking the dst_entry refcount. When ice_eswitch_port_start_xmit() processes a packet, it takes a reference via dst_hold() and attaches the metadata_dst to the skb. If the representor is torn down while packets are still queued on the lower device (e.g. in a qdisc), the metadata_dst is freed while references are still held. Use dst_release() instead, which correctly decrements the refcount and only frees the object when all references are dropped. The dst subsystem already handles metadata_dst cleanup in dst_destroy() when DST_METADATA is set. Other drivers sharing this pattern (nfp, airoha, bnxt) already use dst_release() for their metadata_dst lifecycle.
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)0.2% · higher than 7% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
LI
Linux · Linux
f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 before 1f263235651775f93c15d90c9f25c3f4a4ef6512; f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 before 6f5544f53f1e58ea8a49fb9f9158d5793b9205b0; f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 before beb05f484a1e4a5a66e3678e4b7f3147f651c080; f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 before 5e4d20db5179e83a4948927bc39e489a9a83256d; f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 before 58858b8f14803a7eeac297b3ce20f3b21bf2ff66; 5.16 · source: vendor