---
id: "CVE-2026-99047"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-99047"]
title: "Linux kernel gve driver leaks AF_XDP buffers when queues stop"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: 0.00206
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["af-xdp", "gcp", "gve-driver", "infrastructure", "linux-kernel"]
not_affected_if: ["no-af-xdp-workloads", "no-gve-interface"]
published_at: "2026-10-23T13:17:28+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-23T21:57:33+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-25T12:38:50+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-99047", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-23T21:57:33+00:00"}, {"source": "epss", "url": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-99047", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-25T12:38:50+00:00"}]
---

# Linux kernel gve driver leaks AF_XDP buffers when queues stop

In the Linux gve network driver, AF_XDP (XSK) buffers posted to the NIC are not freed when ring state is reset during queue stop. The sources describe this as a resource leak, and it was reported as hit in production.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## How to check

- Run `uname -r` and compare against the fixed kernel version listed in the NVD entry, unknown from the sources
- Check whether the gve driver is in use with `lspci -k | grep -A3 -i gve` or `ethtool -i <interface>` (driver: gve)
- Check whether AF_XDP sockets are in use on gve interfaces, unknown from the sources

## Fix

- Update the Linux kernel to a release that includes the upstream gve XSK buffer fix, exact version unknown from the sources
- Reboot into the patched kernel after updating

## Timeline

- 2026-10-23T21:57:33+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-99047
- 2026-10-25T12:38:50+00:00 epss https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2026-99047

## From the sources

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

gve: fix XSK buffer leak when rings are stopped

GVE does not free XSK buffers when resetting ring state as a part of
stopping queues. This causes all XSK buffers which are posted to the
NIC to be leaked.

Free XSK buffers attached to an allocated buf_state when stopping rings.

This issue was hit in production.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_