CVE-2026-46162 ice: fix double free in ice_sf_eth_activate() error path
A double free vulnerability in the Linux kernel ice driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted network traffic.
- 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
What is CVE-2026-46162?
CVE-2026-46162 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 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:
ice: fix double free in ice_sf_eth_activate() error path
When auxiliary_device_add() fails, ice_sf_eth_activate() jumps to aux_dev_uninit and calls auxiliary_device_uninit(&sf_dev->adev).
The device release callback ice_sf_dev_release() frees sf_dev, but the current error path falls through to sf_dev_free and calls kfree(sf_dev) again, causing a double free.
Keep kfree(sf_dev) for the auxiliary_device_init() failure path, but avoid falling through to sf_dev_free after auxiliary_device_uninit().
Weakness: CWE-415
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46162?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46162?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-46162 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46162 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-46162, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46162, GHSA-cw9h-69mp-f4jq, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46162.