# CVE-2026-23017: linux: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  idpf: fix error handling in the init_task on loa...

CVE-2026-23017 is fixed in 16 products on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23017, released January 31, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: Routine.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-23017
- Priority: Routine
- CVSS: 5.5 (medium)
- EPSS: 0.0020
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Jan 31, 2026

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:  idpf: fix error handling in the init_task on load  If the init_task fails during a driver load, we end up without vports and netdevs, effectively failing the entire process. In that state a subsequent reset will result in a crash as the service task attempts to access uninitialized resources. Following trace is from an error in the init_task where the CREATE_VPORT (op 501) is rejected by the FW:  [40922.763136] idpf 0000:83:00.0: Device HW Reset initiated [40924.449797] idpf 0000:83:00.0: Transaction failed (op 501) [40958.148190] idpf 0000:83:00.0: HW reset detected [40958.161202] BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000000a8 ... [40958.168094] Workqueue: idpf-0000:83:00.0-vc_event idpf_vc_event_task [idpf] [40958.168865] RIP: 0010:idpf_vc_event_task+0x9b/0x350 [idpf] ... [40958.177932] Call Trace: [40958.178491]  <TASK> [40958.179040]  process_one_work+0x226/0x6d0 [40958.179609]  worker_thread+0x19e/0x340 [40958.180158]  ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 [40958.180702]  kthread+0x10f/0x250 [40958.181238]  ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [40958.181774]  ret_from_fork+0x251/0x2b0 [40958.182307]  ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 [40958.182834]  ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 [40958.183370]  </TASK>  Fix the error handling in the init_task to make sure the service and mailbox tasks are disabled if the error happens during load. These are started in idpf_vc_core_init(), which spawns the init_task and has no way of knowing if it failed. If the error happens on reset, following successful driver load, the tasks can still run, as that will allow the netdevs to attempt recovery through another reset. Stop the PTP callbacks either way as those will be restarted by the call to idpf_vc_core_init() during a successful reset.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | dtb-aarch64 opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-64kb opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-64kb sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-64kb sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-azure opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-azure sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-azure sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-default opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-default sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-default sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-default-base opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1.160000.2.8 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-default-base sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1.150700.17.23.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-default-base sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1.160000.2.8 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-docs opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-docs sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-docs sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-kvmsmall opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-kvmsmall sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_10 sles 15.7 | 1-150700.1.3.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:0962-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-0962-1.md) | Mar 23, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_10 sles 15.7 | 1-150700.15.3.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-obs-build opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-obs-build sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-obs-qa opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-obs-qa sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-rt opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-source opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-source sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-source sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-syms opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-syms sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-syms sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-zfcpdump opensuse-leap 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [OPENSUSE-SU-2026:20416-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/opensuse-su-2026-20416-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-zfcpdump sles 15.7 | 6.4.0-150700.53.34.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:1081-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-1081-1.md) | Mar 26, 2026 |
| Linux | kernel-zfcpdump sles 16.0 | 6.12.0-160000.27.1 | [SUSE-SU-2026:20931-1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/suse-su-2026-20931-1.md) | Mar 25, 2026 |
| Linux | linux Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.12.115-2 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23017](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-23017.md) | Jan 31, 2026 |
| Linux | linux Debian 14 | 6.18.8-1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23017](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-23017.md) | Jan 31, 2026 |

---

Data as of 2026-11-08T06:59:42Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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