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

> A logic error in the bnxt_en driver causes VNIC leaks and potential RSS context loss, leading to denial of service for network interfaces.

- **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-2026-43260, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43260, GHSA-w6jm-j85g-vpgj, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43260

## What is CVE-2026-43260?

CVE-2026-43260 is a high-severity denial of service 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:

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.

Weakness: CWE-415 (Double Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43260?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-43260?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-43260 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43260 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-2026-43260 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-43260 is a high-severity denial of service 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-2026-43260 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-2026-43260/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43260/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43260
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-43260
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-43260

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-43260/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.