CVE-2026-99043

Memory corruption via premature representor metadata freeing

Published Oct 23, 2026 · Updated Oct 23, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux ice driver allows attackers to access freed packet metadata during network representor teardown. The ice_eswitch_release_repr() function calls metadata_dst_free() without honoring references that ice_eswitch_port_start_xmit() attaches to queued packets. The race requires representor teardown while packets remain queued on the lower device; the published evidence does not establish attacker privileges or a demonstrated crash or code-execution outcome.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Nov 1, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux ice driver allows attackers to access freed packet metadata during network representor teardown. The ice_eswitch_release_repr() function calls metadata_dst_free() without honoring references that ice_eswitch_port_start_xmit() attaches to queued packets. The race requires representor teardown while packets remain queued on the lower device; the published evidence does not establish attacker privileges or a demonstrated crash or code-execution outcome.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-99043
Published
Oct 23, 2026
Updated
Oct 23, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 23, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.16
  2. Affected versionversion=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <1f263235651775f93c15d90c9f25c3f4a4ef6512
  3. Affected versionversion=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <58858b8f14803a7eeac297b3ce20f3b21bf2ff66
  4. Affected versionversion=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <5e4d20db5179e83a4948927bc39e489a9a83256d
  5. Affected versionversion=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <6f5544f53f1e58ea8a49fb9f9158d5793b9205b0
  6. Affected versionversion=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <beb05f484a1e4a5a66e3678e4b7f3147f651c080

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5.16; version=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <1f263235651775f93c15d90c9f25c3f4a4ef6512; version=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <58858b8f14803a7eeac297b3ce20f3b21bf2ff66; version=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <5e4d20db5179e83a4948927bc39e489a9a83256d; version=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <6f5544f53f1e58ea8a49fb9f9158d5793b9205b0; version=f5396b8a663f7a78ee5b75a47ee524b40795b265 <beb05f484a1e4a5a66e3678e4b7f3147f651c080

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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