CVE-2026-53094
HIGHIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix stale offload->prog pointer after constant blinding When a dev-bound-only BPF program (BPF_F_XDP_DEV_BOUND_ONLY)…
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
bpf: Fix stale offload->prog pointer after constant blinding
When a dev-bound-only BPF program (BPF_F_XDP_DEV_BOUND_ONLY) undergoes JIT compilation with constant blinding enabled (bpf_jit_harden >= 2), bpf_jit_blind_constants() clones the program. The original prog is then freed in bpf_jit_prog_release_other(), which updates aux->prog to point to the surviving clone, but fails to update offload->prog.
This leaves offload->prog pointing to the freed original program. When the network namespace is subsequently destroyed, cleanup_net() triggers bpf_dev_bound_netdev_unregister(), which iterates ondev->progs and calls __bpf_prog_offload_destroy(offload->prog). Accessing the freed prog causes a page fault:
BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffffc900085f1038 Workqueue: netns cleanup_net RIP: 0010:__bpf_prog_offload_destroy+0xc/0x80 Call Trace: __bpf_offload_dev_netdev_unregister+0x257/0x350 bpf_dev_bound_netdev_unregister+0x4a/0x90 unregister_netdevice_many_notify+0x2a2/0x660 ... cleanup_net+0x21a/0x320
The test sequence that triggers this reliably is:
- Set net.core.bpf_jit_harden=2 (echo 2 > /proc/sys/net/core/bpf_jit_harden)
- Run xdp_metadata selftest, which creates a dev-bound-only XDP program on a veth inside a netns (./test_progs -t xdp_metadata)
- cleanup_net -> page fault in __bpf_prog_offload_destroy
Dev-bound-only programs are unique in that they have an offload structure but go through the normal JIT path instead of bpf_prog_offload_compile(). This means they are subject to constant blinding's prog clone-and-replace, while also having offload->prog that must stay in sync.
Fix this by updating offload->prog in bpf_jit_prog_release_other(), alongside the existing aux->prog update. Both are back-pointers to the prog that must be kept in sync when the prog is replaced.
Detection & mitigation playbook
VulnerabilityDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for the affected component. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Remediation status
No patched version of the affected component has shipped for CVE-2026-53094 yet. Where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range, and apply any maintainer-recommended mitigation.
Mitigate without a patch
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2026-53094 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2026-53094. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-53094 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2026-53094 across dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.