In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

xsk: clear metadata pointer when no timestamp is requested

User space can change metadata flags after request processing. Rereading
them during completion can therefore make the kernel write a timestamp
that was not requested when the packet was submitted.

Clear the metadata pointer during request processing unless timestamp
completion is requested. Completion handling can then use the pointer
itself instead of rereading the flags.

On the mlx5 multi-packet WQE path metadata is evaluated per batch:
xsk_tx_metadata_request() runs only for the descriptor that starts a
session, just like the checksum offload that is applied once through the
shared WQE. Only that descriptor's pointer is reset, so completion
handling can record a timestamp for the other descriptors of the session
regardless of their own XDP_TXMD_FLAGS_TIMESTAMP bit. The write stays
inside the metadata area; the single-WQE, other zero-copy, and generic
paths reset the pointer per descriptor and are unaffected.
Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xsk: clear metadata pointer when no timestamp is requested User space can change metadata flags after request processing. Rereading them during completion can therefore make the kernel write a timestamp that was not requested when the packet was submitted. Clear the metadata pointer during request processing unless timestamp completion is requested. Completion handling can then use the pointer itself instead of rereading the flags. On the mlx5 multi-packet WQE path metadata is evaluated per batch: xsk_tx_metadata_request() runs only for the descriptor that starts a session, just like the checksum offload that is applied once through the shared WQE. Only that descriptor's pointer is reset, so completion handling can record a timestamp for the other descriptors of the session regardless of their own XDP_TXMD_FLAGS_TIMESTAMP bit. The write stays inside the metadata area; the single-WQE, other zero-copy, and generic paths reset the pointer per descriptor and are unaffected.
Title xsk: clear metadata pointer when no timestamp is requested
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-22T15:33:06.558Z

Reserved: 2026-08-15T05:44:03.927Z

Link: CVE-2026-74709

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-22T16:16:45.640

Modified: 2026-08-22T16:16:45.640

Link: CVE-2026-74709

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-22T22:00:12Z

Weaknesses