CVE-2026-90142
Description
A flaw was found in the virtio_net component of the Linux kernel. When an AF_XDP (Address Family eXpress Data Path) socket is attached, the system fails to properly resize the RX (receive) ring buffer. This oversight can lead to an out-of-bounds write operation, where data is written beyond the allocated memory region. A local attacker could potentially exploit this to cause a denial of service or other memory corruption issues.
Statement
An out of bounds write can occur in virtio_net when an AF_XDP socket is attached and the RX ring is enlarged without resizing the rq xsk_buffs array. After the virtqueue grows, virtnet_rx_resume can use the new ring size and write struct xdp_buff pointers beyond the allocation created for the old ring size. The documented sequence is easily reproducible and does not require a race or a narrow timing window. Impact is at least a local denial of service through kernel memory corruption and a kernel crash. In the worst case, corruption of an adjacent kernel heap object may affect confidentiality and integrity or support privilege escalation, although reliable control of the overwritten object is not established by the supplied code. For the CVSS the PR:L is used in the paranoid score because CAP_NET_ADMIN may be delegated to a container root, network service account, or another restricted local process that does not otherwise have full control of the kernel. The issue is not directly network reachable because an attacker must locally attach an AF_XDP socket and request an RX ring resize.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options don't meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 5.5 | N/A | 7.8 |
| Attack Vector | Local | N/A | Local |
| Attack Complexity | Low | N/A | Low |
| Privileges Required | Low | N/A | Low |
| User Interaction | None | N/A | None |
| Scope | Unchanged | N/A | Unchanged |
| Confidentiality | None | N/A | High |
| Integrity Impact | None | N/A | High |
| Availability Impact | High | N/A | High |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
cve.org: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Memory; Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
Write operations could cause memory corruption. In some cases, an adversary can modify control data such as return addresses in order to execute unexpected code.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
Attempting to access out-of-range, invalid, or unauthorized memory could cause the product to crash.
Other
Technical Impact: Unexpected State
Subsequent write operations can produce undefined or unexpected results.
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