# CVE-2026-43205: dpaa2-switch: validate num_ifs to prevent out-of-bounds write

> A missing bounds check in the dpaa2-switch driver allows out-of-bounds writes, potentially enabling code execution or privilege escalation.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 6 May 2026
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-43205, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43205, GHSA-v2hq-m36p-4jr3, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2026-43205, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2026-43205, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43205

## What is CVE-2026-43205?

CVE-2026-43205 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 6 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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

dpaa2-switch: validate num_ifs to prevent out-of-bounds write

The driver obtains sw_attr.num_ifs from firmware via dpsw_get_attributes()
but never validates it against DPSW_MAX_IF (64). This value controls
iteration in dpaa2_switch_fdb_get_flood_cfg(), which writes port indices
into the fixed-size cfg->if_id[DPSW_MAX_IF] array. When firmware reports
num_ifs >= 64, the loop can write past the array bounds.

Add a bound check for num_ifs in dpaa2_switch_init().

dpaa2_switch_fdb_get_flood_cfg() appends the control interface (port
num_ifs) after all matched ports. When num_ifs == DPSW_MAX_IF and all
ports match the flood filter, the loop fills all 64 slots and the control
interface write overflows by one entry.

The check uses >= because num_ifs == DPSW_MAX_IF is also functionally
broken.

build_if_id_bitmap() silently drops any ID >= 64:
      if (id[i] < DPSW_MAX_IF)
          bmap[id[i] / 64] |= ...

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43205?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-43205?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-43205 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43205 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-43205 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-43205 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 6 May 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43205 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43205/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43205/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43205
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43205
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-43205

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43205/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.