If left unpatched, CVE-2026-23294 could lead to major system disruptions or data loss.
Status: Awaiting Analysis
Last updated: 🕒 02 Apr 2026, 15:16 UTC
Originally published on: 🕚 25 Mar 2026, 11:16 UTC
Time between publication and last update: 8 days
CVSS Release: version 3
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVE-2026-23294: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix race in devmap on PREEMPT_RT On PREEMPT_RT kernels, the per-CPU xdp_dev_bulk_queue (bq) can be accessed concurrently by multiple preemptible tasks on the same CPU. The original code assumes bq_enqueue() and __dev_flush() run atomically with respect to each other on the same CPU, relying on local_bh_disable() to prevent preemption. However, on PREEMPT_RT, local_bh_disable() only calls migrate_disable() (when PREEMPT_RT_NEEDS_BH_LOCK is not set) and does not disable preemption, which allows CFS scheduling to preempt a task during bq_xmit_all(), enabling another task on the same CPU to enter bq_enqueue() and operate on the same per-CPU bq concurrently. This leads to several races: 1. Double-free / use-after-free on bq->q[]: bq_xmit_all() snapshots cnt = bq->count, then iterates bq->q[0..cnt-1] to transmit frames. If preempted after the snapshot, a second task can call bq_enqueue() -> bq_xmit_all() on the same bq, transmitting (and freeing) the same frames. When the first task resumes, it operates on stale pointers in bq->q[], causing use-after-free. 2. bq->count and bq->q[] corruption: concurrent bq_enqueue() modifying bq->count and bq->q[] while bq_xmit_all() is reading them. 3. dev_rx/xdp_prog teardown race: __dev_flush() clears bq->dev_rx and bq->xdp_prog after bq_xmit_all(). If preempted between bq_xmit_all() return and bq->dev_rx = NULL, a preempting bq_enqueue() sees dev_rx still set (non-NULL), skips adding bq to the flush_list, and enqueues a frame. When __dev_flush() resumes, it clears dev_rx and removes bq from the flush_list, orphaning the newly enqueued frame. 4. __list_del_clearprev() on flush_node: similar to the cpumap race, both tasks can call __list_del_clearprev() on the same flush_node, the second dereferences the prev pointer already set to NULL. The race between task A (__dev_flush -> bq_xmit_all) and task B (bq_enqueue -> bq_xmit_all) on the same CPU: Task A (xdp_do_flush) Task B (ndo_xdp_xmit redirect) ---------------------- -------------------------------- __dev_flush(flush_list) bq_xmit_all(bq) cnt = bq->count /* e.g. 16 */ /* start iterating bq->q[] */ <-- CFS preempts Task A --> bq_enqueue(dev, xdpf) bq->count == DEV_MAP_BULK_SIZE bq_xmit_all(bq, 0) cnt = bq->count /* same 16! */ ndo_xdp_xmit(bq->q[]) /* frames freed by driver */ bq->count = 0 <-- Task A resumes --> ndo_xdp_xmit(bq->q[]) /* use-after-free: frames already freed! */ Fix this by adding a local_lock_t to xdp_dev_bulk_queue and acquiring it in bq_enqueue() and __dev_flush(). These paths already run under local_bh_disable(), so use local_lock_nested_bh() which on non-RT is a pure annotation with no overhead, and on PREEMPT_RT provides a per-CPU sleeping lock that serializes access to the bq.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-23294 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
This vulnerability, CVE-2026-23294, requires a high level of attack complexity and low privileges, making it difficult but not impossible to exploit. Organizations should ensure robust security configurations to mitigate risks.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-23294, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-23294, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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