CVE-2026-53215·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: mvpp2: refill RX buffers before XDP or skb use The RX error path returns the current descriptor buffer to the hardware BM pool. That is only valid while the driver still owns the buffer. mvpp2_rx_refill() can fail after the current buffer has been handed to XDP or attached to an skb. In those cases mvpp2_run_xdp() may have recycled, redirected, or queued the page for XDP_TX, and an skb free also retires the data buffer. Returning such a buffer to BM lets hardware DMA into memory that is no longer owned by the RX ring. Refill the BM pool before handing the current buffer to XDP or to the skb. If the allocation fails there, drop the packet and return the still-owned current buffer to BM, preserving the pool depth. Once the refill succeeds, later local drops retire/free the current buffer instead of returning it to BM.
- Severity
- critical
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 7.0.13
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.50% — higher than 42% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2026-53215 scores 9.8 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.50%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
From: 6.19
Until: 7.0.13
Fixed in: 7.0.13
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 7.0.13 or later to resolve a critical buffer management flaw in the Marvell PPv2 network driver. This vulnerability allows improper DMA access to memory after buffer ownership has been transferred to XDP or the network stack. Immediate patching is essential for systems using affected kernel versions (6.19-7.0.12).
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-develDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check the running kernel version: uname -r — confirm if it falls between 6.19 and 7.0.12
- Verify if the Marvell PPv2 driver is loaded: lsmod | grep mvpp2 — if output is empty, this system is not affected
- Review kernel logs for RX buffer management errors: sudo dmesg | grep -i 'refill\|mvpp2\|bm pool' — look for repeated failures or memory corruption warnings
- Confirm the patch status by checking the kernel commit hash: git log --oneline | grep -i '02e1b5c4d3b4c' — if present, the fix has been applied
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-53215?
CVE-2026-53215 is a critical kernel flaw in the Marvell PPv2 network driver where the RX buffer refill operation is performed after buffer ownership has already been transferred to the XDP/networking stack, allowing hardware DMA writes to memory that the driver no longer owns.
Is CVE-2026-53215 being actively exploited?
No, according to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, CVE-2026-53215 is not currently being actively exploited in the wild, and no public exploit code is available.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2026-53215?
Linux kernel versions 6.19 through 7.0.12 are vulnerable; version 7.0.13 and later include the security fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-53215?
Run 'uname -r' to check your kernel version; if it is between 6.19 and 7.0.12 and 'lsmod | grep mvpp2' shows the Marvell driver is loaded, your system is vulnerable.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-53215?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If the Linux kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-53215 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/02e1b5c4d3b4c658b72c145427cded1bba613fc1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/580f92f27cb8724bcc4be98ee89890eab524a2ae
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5e8e2a9624df72fca7c736b2966b2cbf6c9c3ff6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8a2126c5afe89f8ceeb60a3afb9f075b736194cd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a03cdcedb2cbcc42551dc3e4746929e93c5352d5
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