Vulnerability in Kernel: ice: xsk: return xsk buffers back to pool when cleaning the ring

Kernel Updated 02 Oct 2025

Summary

30/12/2021
N/A
No i
Unrated
Not published

GSD-2021-1002820: ice: xsk: return xsk buffers back to pool when cleaning the ring. Affects Kernel versions >= 2d4238f5569722197612656163d824098208519c, < ad6d20da2cfbe14b7b1200d15f39e65988b0b9e8. No fix is published. How to fix ↓

Free scan

Check if this vulnerability affects your application

Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.

Check my app free

No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds

Upload your dependency manifest or SBOM

Drag & drop your file here or

Java Javascript PHP Python Go Rust Ruby Dart C/C++ Elixir CycloneDX SPDX

Upload a supported dependency manifest or SBOM. No installation or source-code access required.

See supported files and SBOM formats
SBOM sbom.json · bom.json · bom.xml · *.spdx.json · *.cdx.json · *.cdx.xml
Java pom.xml · gradle.lockfile · buildscript-gradle.lockfile
Javascript package-lock.json · yarn.lock · pnpm-lock.yaml
PHP composer.lock
Python poetry.lock · requirements.txt · Pipfile.lock
Go go.mod
Rust Cargo.lock
Ruby Gemfile.lock
Dart pubspec.lock
C/C++ conan.lock
Elixir mix.lock
Enter your work email to receive your report link.

Verify your email to view the full report and start 30 days of continuous monitoring. No credit card required.

Sponsored Devnack Penetration testing for web, API and mobile Manual testing by engineers who build software, not an auditor's checklist. Trusted by teams at Swift and Google Talk to Devnack

Background

The Kernel is a crucial component of the Linux operating system that manages the communication between hardware and software. It provides essential services and functions, including device drivers, memory management, and process scheduling. The vulnerability in question affects the Kernel's ice module, specifically the xsk (XDP Socket) functionality. XDP (eXpress Data Path) is a high-performance networking technology that allows for packet processing at the earliest possible stage in the Linux networking stack. The vulnerability arises when xsk buffers are not properly returned to the pool during the cleaning of the ring, potentially leading to resource leaks and other security issues.

Vulnerability Detail

The vulnerability in the ice module of the Kernel's xsk functionality allows for resource leaks and potential security issues. When cleaning the ring, xsk buffers are not correctly returned to the pool, leading to a depletion of resources and potential memory corruption. This vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) condition or potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. It is important to note that the impact and attack plausibility of this vulnerability have not been proven yet.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

Workaround

As a workaround, users can apply the patch provided in commit ad6d20da2cfbe14b7b1200d15f39e65988b0b9e8 manually. Here is an example of how to apply the patch:

  1. Clone the Linux Kernel repository: git clone https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git
  2. Checkout the commit ad6d20da2cfbe14b7b1200d15f39e65988b0b9e8: git checkout ad6d20da2cfbe14b7b1200d15f39e65988b0b9e8
  3. Recompile and install the Kernel following the standard procedures for your distribution.

Applying the patch manually ensures that the xsk buffers are correctly returned to the pool, addressing the resource leaks and potential security issues.

Conclusion

The vulnerability in the Kernel's ice module, specifically in the xsk functionality, allows for resource leaks and potential security issues. It is crucial to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.15.12 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Alternatively, users can apply the provided patch manually as a workaround. For further support on vulnerability remediation, please contact DevNack.com.

See every vulnerability recorded for Kernel →

Share this vulnerability

FAQ

The Kernel is a crucial component of the Linux operating system that manages the communication between hardware and software. It provides essential services and functions, including device drivers, memory management, and process scheduling.

The ice module in the Kernel is responsible for handling the xsk (XDP Socket) functionality. XDP (eXpress Data Path) is a high-performance networking technology that allows for packet processing at the earliest possible stage in the Linux networking stack.

The impact of this vulnerability includes potential resource leaks, memory corruption, and the possibility of a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. It could also potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

To fix this vulnerability, it is recommended to update the Linux Kernel to version v5.15.12 or later. This fix ensures that the xsk buffers are properly returned to the pool during the cleaning of the ring, mitigating the resource leaks and potential security issues.

Yes, a workaround is available. Users can manually apply the patch provided in commit ad6d20da2cfbe14b7b1200d15f39e65988b0b9e8. This ensures that the xsk buffers are correctly returned to the pool, addressing the resource leaks and potential security issues.

Related vulnerabilities

Recent vulnerabilities recorded for Kernel.

How To Fix

No fixed version is published for this vulnerability.

Tip — Not sure whether your app is affected? Vulert can check the versions your app actually runs. Scan free →

Subscribe to Vulert on Telegram
Daily digest of new CVEs, critical and high severity, affected packages and fixes — plus a weekly roundup.
Join the channel →
Help improve this record
Report an issue or send feedback