CVE-2026-53007 Overview
CVE-2026-53007 is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Intel Ethernet (ice) network driver. The flaw resides in the error-handling path of ice_set_ringparam(), which configures ring buffer parameters for Intel E800-series network adapters. When ice_setup_tx_ring() fails after the function has nullified the timestamp ring of temporary transmit rings, the unwinding sequence dereferences a NULL pointer through ice_clean_tx_ring(). The issue was identified through manual code review and affects systems using affected ice driver versions. The vulnerability has been resolved upstream through commits in the stable kernel tree.
Critical Impact
A failed ring parameter reconfiguration on systems using the ice driver can trigger a kernel NULL pointer dereference, leading to a kernel panic and denial of service.
Affected Products
- Linux kernel versions containing the ice driver with TXTIME ring support
- Systems using Intel E830-series Ethernet controllers
- Stable kernel branches prior to the referenced fix commits
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-24 - CVE-2026-53007 published to NVD
- 2026-06-24 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-53007
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability exists in the ice_set_ringparam() function of the Intel ice Ethernet driver. This function allows administrators to reconfigure transmit and receive ring sizes through ethtool. During reconfiguration, the driver allocates temporary transmit rings and nullifies their associated tstamp_ring pointers. However, the function does not clear the ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME flag on these temporary rings.
When a subsequent ice_setup_tx_ring() call fails, the error-recovery path invokes ice_clean_tx_ring(). Because the TXTIME flag remains set, ice_is_txtime_cfg() returns true, causing ice_free_tx_tstamp_ring() to call ice_free_tstamp_ring(), which then dereferences the NULL tstamp_ring->desc pointer. The kernel oops that results halts the affected CPU context and can crash the system. Refer to the Kernel Git Commit - Security Fix for the upstream resolution.
Root Cause
The root cause is incomplete state cleanup [CWE-476]. The driver nullifies the timestamp ring pointer without clearing the associated TXTIME configuration flag, leaving the data structure in an inconsistent state. Error-recovery code then makes decisions based on the stale flag and operates on the NULL pointer.
Attack Vector
Triggering the condition requires a failure in ice_setup_tx_ring() during ring parameter reconfiguration. A local user with CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges, who can issue ethtool -G commands against an ice-managed interface, may induce the unwinding path under memory pressure or resource exhaustion. The result is a kernel NULL pointer dereference rather than memory corruption or privilege escalation.
No verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. The reporter notes the issue was found via manual code review and was compile-tested only, without access to E830 hardware.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-53007
Indicators of Compromise
- Kernel oops messages referencing ice_free_tstamp_ring, ice_free_tx_tstamp_ring, or ice_clean_tx_ring in dmesg or /var/log/kern.log
- Unexpected network interface resets or system panics correlated with ethtool -G operations on ice interfaces
- Crash dumps showing a NULL dereference within the ice driver call stack during transmit ring teardown
Detection Strategies
- Audit kernel ring buffer logs for stack traces involving ice_set_ringparam followed by error-recovery functions in the ice driver
- Inventory hosts running affected kernel versions and identify those with Intel E800-series NICs using lspci and ethtool -i <iface>
- Monitor administrative shell history and configuration management logs for ethtool -G invocations against ice interfaces
Monitoring Recommendations
- Collect dmesg and /var/log/messages centrally to surface kernel oops events for triage
- Alert on unexpected NIC link flaps or driver reload events on hosts with Intel E830 hardware
- Track kernel version drift across the fleet to ensure patched builds are deployed promptly
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-53007
Immediate Actions Required
- Identify all Linux hosts running the ice driver, particularly those with Intel E830-series adapters, and prioritize them for patching
- Apply the upstream stable kernel update containing the fix from the referenced kernel.org commits
- Restrict the set of accounts holding CAP_NET_ADMIN to limit who can issue ring reconfiguration commands
Patch Information
The issue is resolved by clearing the ICE_TX_RING_FLAGS_TXTIME bit when the temporary transmit ring's tstamp_ring is nullified. The fix is available in the Linux stable tree via the Kernel Git Commit - Security Fix and the Kernel Git Commit - Bug Fix. Administrators should update to a kernel release that incorporates these commits and reboot affected systems.
Workarounds
- Avoid changing ring parameters with ethtool -G on ice interfaces until the patched kernel is deployed
- Limit CAP_NET_ADMIN and root access to trusted operators on hosts with Intel E830 NICs
- Where feasible, disable TXTIME-based configurations on ice interfaces until the fix is in place
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
