CVE-2026-63983

What the bug is

When netem duplicates a packet it re-enqueues the copy at the root qdisc. If another netem sits in the tree the copy can be duplicated again, recursing until the stack or memory is exhausted. The original duplication guard temporarily zeroed q->duplicate around the re-enqueue, but that does not cover all cases because it is per-qdisc state shared across all concurrent enqueue paths and is not safe without additional locking. Use the skb tc_depth field introduced in an earlier patch: - increment it on the duplicate before re-enqueue - skip duplication for any skb whose tc_depth is already non-zero. This marks the packet itself rather than mutating qdisc state, therefore it is safe regardless of tree topology or concurrency.

Where it lives

The fix touches these files. If the subsystem is one you do not use, the practical exposure is lower, though the package is still the vulnerable one.

net/sched/sch_netem.c

What this is

NETEM NETWORK EMULATORMAINTAINERS section matched on net/sched/sch_netem.c · netdev@vger.kernel.org · Maintained

Kernel module

sch_netem

Check it on the machine

grep -w CONFIG_NET_SCH_NETEM /boot/config-$(uname -r)

Reads the booted kernel's own configuration, on the machine and nowhere else. =y is built in, =m is a module, and an is not set line means the code is not there.

lsmod | grep -w sch_netem

Prints a line if that module is loaded right now, and nothing if it is not. One that is not loaded can still be loaded later by anything that needs it.

Show whether Debian builds this, per release

Debian builds this as a loadable module. Every release below compiles it as a module on every flavour, so whether the code is in the running kernel depends on whether that module is loaded.

• bookworm, trixie, forky, sidm

m

a loadable module on every flavour - check lsmod, can be blacklisted

Build switch

CONFIG_NET_SCH_NETEM

From the configuration Debian publishes for every kernel flavour it builds. It covers only the architectures Debian ships a linux-config package for, and nothing about a kernel you built yourself. Debian's own status above stays authoritative about the source package.MAINTAINERS kbuild Makefiles Debian linux-config packages

Signals

Published

2026-07-19 (3 months ago)source

CVSS

no vector published, unrated

Attack vector

not published

EPSS

0.21%, higher than 10.3% of all CVEssource

CISA KEV

not listedthe KEV catalogue

Debian urgency

not yet assignedsource

Subsystem

net/sched

Upstream fixes

The versions the CNA records as introducing and fixing this, and the commit for each. source

Introduced	Fixed in	Commit
2.6.12	6.12.93	1a298a514ce7
2.6.12	6.18.57	4ec3a8ca9739
2.6.12	7.0.12	cfb261604276
2.6.12	7.1	9552b11e3eda