CVE-2026-43260: bnxt_en: Fix RSS context delete logic

Severity: high (CVSS 7.8 v3.1)
Exploited in the wild: not listed in CISA KEV
EPSS: 0.1% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days
Public exploit or detection template: none known
Published: 2026-05-06 · updated 2026-06-17
Weakness: CWE-415

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bnxt_en: Fix RSS context delete logic We need to free the corresponding RSS context VNIC in FW everytime an RSS context is deleted in driver. Commit 667ac333dbb7 added a check to delete the VNIC in FW only when netif_running() is true to help delete RSS contexts with interface down. Having that condition will make the driver leak VNICs in FW whenever close() happens with active RSS contexts. On the subsequent open(), as part of RSS context restoration, we will end up trying to create extra VNICs for which we did not make any reservation. FW can fail this request, thereby making us lose active RSS contexts. Suppose an RSS context is deleted already and we try to process a delete request again, then the HWRM functions will check for validity of the request and they simply return if the resource is already freed. So, even for delete-when-down cases, netif_running() check is not necessary. Remove the netif_running() condition check when deleting an RSS context.

Affected products

Linux kernel: from 6.11 before 6.12.75; from 6.13 before 6.18.16; from 6.19 before 6.19.6; 7.0-rc1 — fixed in 6.12.75, 6.18.16, 6.19.6

How to fix

Upgrade to a fixed version: Linux kernel 6.12.75, 6.18.16, 6.19.6. Check the vendor advisory for mitigations.

References

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