diff --git a/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_crypto.c b/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_crypto.c
index dd01afc08..80b83ef77 100644
--- a/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_crypto.c
+++ b/lib/librte_vhost/vhost_crypto.c
@@ -466,12 +466,17 @@ vhost_crypto_msg_post_handler(int vid, void *msg)
 }
 
 static __rte_always_inline struct vring_desc *
-find_write_desc(struct vring_desc *head, struct vring_desc *desc)
+find_write_desc(struct vring_desc *head, struct vring_desc *desc,
+		uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	if (desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_WRITE)
 		return desc;
 
 	while (desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_NEXT) {
+		if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0))
+			return NULL;
+		(*nb_descs)--;
+
 		desc = &head[desc->next];
 		if (desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_WRITE)
 			return desc;
@@ -481,13 +486,18 @@ find_write_desc(struct vring_desc *head, struct vring_desc *desc)
 }
 
 static struct virtio_crypto_inhdr *
-reach_inhdr(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req, struct vring_desc *desc)
+reach_inhdr(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req, struct vring_desc *desc,
+		uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	uint64_t dlen;
 	struct virtio_crypto_inhdr *inhdr;
 
-	while (desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_NEXT)
+	while (desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_NEXT) {
+		if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0))
+			return NULL;
+		(*nb_descs)--;
 		desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
+	}
 
 	dlen = desc->len;
 	inhdr = IOVA_TO_VVA(struct virtio_crypto_inhdr *, vc_req, desc->addr,
@@ -500,15 +510,16 @@ reach_inhdr(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req, struct vring_desc *desc)
 
 static __rte_always_inline int
 move_desc(struct vring_desc *head, struct vring_desc **cur_desc,
-		uint32_t size)
+		uint32_t size, uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	struct vring_desc *desc = *cur_desc;
-	int left = size;
-
-	rte_prefetch0(&head[desc->next]);
-	left -= desc->len;
+	int left = size - desc->len;
 
 	while ((desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_NEXT) && left > 0) {
+		(*nb_descs)--;
+		if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0))
+			return -1;
+
 		desc = &head[desc->next];
 		rte_prefetch0(&head[desc->next]);
 		left -= desc->len;
@@ -517,7 +528,10 @@ move_desc(struct vring_desc *head, struct vring_desc **cur_desc,
 	if (unlikely(left > 0))
 		return -1;
 
-	*cur_desc = &head[desc->next];
+	if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0))
+		*cur_desc = NULL;
+	else
+		*cur_desc = &head[desc->next];
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -539,7 +553,7 @@ get_data_ptr(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req, struct vring_desc *cur_desc,
 
 static int
 copy_data(void *dst_data, struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
-		struct vring_desc **cur_desc, uint32_t size)
+		struct vring_desc **cur_desc, uint32_t size, uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	struct vring_desc *desc = *cur_desc;
 	uint64_t remain, addr, dlen, len;
@@ -548,7 +562,6 @@ copy_data(void *dst_data, struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 	uint8_t *src;
 	int left = size;
 
-	rte_prefetch0(&vc_req->head[desc->next]);
 	to_copy = RTE_MIN(desc->len, (uint32_t)left);
 	dlen = to_copy;
 	src = IOVA_TO_VVA(uint8_t *, vc_req, desc->addr, &dlen,
@@ -582,6 +595,12 @@ copy_data(void *dst_data, struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 	left -= to_copy;
 
 	while ((desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_NEXT) && left > 0) {
+		if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0)) {
+			VC_LOG_ERR("Invalid descriptors");
+			return -1;
+		}
+		(*nb_descs)--;
+
 		desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
 		rte_prefetch0(&vc_req->head[desc->next]);
 		to_copy = RTE_MIN(desc->len, (uint32_t)left);
@@ -624,7 +643,10 @@ copy_data(void *dst_data, struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	*cur_desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
+	if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0))
+		*cur_desc = NULL;
+	else
+		*cur_desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
 
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -684,7 +706,8 @@ prepare_write_back_data(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 		struct vhost_crypto_writeback_data **end_wb_data,
 		uint8_t *src,
 		uint32_t offset,
-		uint64_t write_back_len)
+		uint64_t write_back_len,
+		uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	struct vhost_crypto_writeback_data *wb_data, *head;
 	struct vring_desc *desc = *cur_desc;
@@ -731,6 +754,12 @@ prepare_write_back_data(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 		offset -= desc->len;
 
 	while (write_back_len) {
+		if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0)) {
+			VC_LOG_ERR("Invalid descriptors");
+			goto error_exit;
+		}
+		(*nb_descs)--;
+
 		desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
 		if (unlikely(!(desc->flags & VRING_DESC_F_WRITE))) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("incorrect descriptor");
@@ -770,7 +799,10 @@ prepare_write_back_data(struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 			wb_data->next = NULL;
 	}
 
-	*cur_desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
+	if (unlikely(*nb_descs == 0))
+		*cur_desc = NULL;
+	else
+		*cur_desc = &vc_req->head[desc->next];
 
 	*end_wb_data = wb_data;
 
@@ -787,7 +819,8 @@ static uint8_t
 prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 		struct virtio_crypto_cipher_data_req *cipher,
-		struct vring_desc *cur_desc)
+		struct vring_desc *cur_desc,
+		uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	struct vring_desc *desc = cur_desc;
 	struct vhost_crypto_writeback_data *ewb = NULL;
@@ -797,8 +830,8 @@ prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 
 	/* prepare */
 	/* iv */
-	if (unlikely(copy_data(iv_data, vc_req, &desc,
-			cipher->para.iv_len) < 0)) {
+	if (unlikely(copy_data(iv_data, vc_req, &desc, cipher->para.iv_len,
+			nb_descs) < 0)) {
 		ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
@@ -818,7 +851,7 @@ prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		}
 
 		if (unlikely(move_desc(vc_req->head, &desc,
-				cipher->para.src_data_len) < 0)) {
+				cipher->para.src_data_len, nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("Incorrect descriptor");
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -835,8 +868,8 @@ prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
 		if (unlikely(copy_data(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m_src, uint8_t *),
-				vc_req, &desc, cipher->para.src_data_len)
-				< 0)) {
+				vc_req, &desc, cipher->para.src_data_len,
+				nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
@@ -847,7 +880,7 @@ prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 	}
 
 	/* dst */
-	desc = find_write_desc(vc_req->head, desc);
+	desc = find_write_desc(vc_req->head, desc, nb_descs);
 	if (unlikely(!desc)) {
 		VC_LOG_ERR("Cannot find write location");
 		ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
@@ -866,7 +899,7 @@ prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		}
 
 		if (unlikely(move_desc(vc_req->head, &desc,
-				cipher->para.dst_data_len) < 0)) {
+				cipher->para.dst_data_len, nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("Incorrect descriptor");
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -877,7 +910,7 @@ prepare_sym_cipher_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 	case RTE_VHOST_CRYPTO_ZERO_COPY_DISABLE:
 		vc_req->wb = prepare_write_back_data(vc_req, &desc, &ewb,
 				rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m_src, uint8_t *), 0,
-				cipher->para.dst_data_len);
+				cipher->para.dst_data_len, nb_descs);
 		if (unlikely(vc_req->wb == NULL)) {
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -919,7 +952,8 @@ static uint8_t
 prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		struct vhost_crypto_data_req *vc_req,
 		struct virtio_crypto_alg_chain_data_req *chain,
-		struct vring_desc *cur_desc)
+		struct vring_desc *cur_desc,
+		uint32_t *nb_descs)
 {
 	struct vring_desc *desc = cur_desc, *digest_desc;
 	struct vhost_crypto_writeback_data *ewb = NULL, *ewb2 = NULL;
@@ -932,7 +966,7 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 	/* prepare */
 	/* iv */
 	if (unlikely(copy_data(iv_data, vc_req, &desc,
-			chain->para.iv_len) < 0)) {
+			chain->para.iv_len, nb_descs) < 0)) {
 		ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
 		goto error_exit;
 	}
@@ -953,7 +987,7 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		}
 
 		if (unlikely(move_desc(vc_req->head, &desc,
-				chain->para.src_data_len) < 0)) {
+				chain->para.src_data_len, nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("Incorrect descriptor");
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -969,7 +1003,8 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
 		if (unlikely(copy_data(rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m_src, uint8_t *),
-				vc_req, &desc, chain->para.src_data_len)) < 0) {
+				vc_req, &desc, chain->para.src_data_len,
+				nb_descs)) < 0) {
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
@@ -981,7 +1016,7 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 	}
 
 	/* dst */
-	desc = find_write_desc(vc_req->head, desc);
+	desc = find_write_desc(vc_req->head, desc, nb_descs);
 	if (unlikely(!desc)) {
 		VC_LOG_ERR("Cannot find write location");
 		ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
@@ -1000,7 +1035,7 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		}
 
 		if (unlikely(move_desc(vc_req->head, &desc,
-				chain->para.dst_data_len) < 0)) {
+				chain->para.dst_data_len, nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("Incorrect descriptor");
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -1017,7 +1052,7 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 		}
 
 		if (unlikely(move_desc(vc_req->head, &desc,
-				chain->para.hash_result_len) < 0)) {
+				chain->para.hash_result_len, nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("Incorrect descriptor");
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -1029,7 +1064,7 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 				rte_pktmbuf_mtod(m_src, uint8_t *),
 				chain->para.cipher_start_src_offset,
 				chain->para.dst_data_len -
-				chain->para.cipher_start_src_offset);
+				chain->para.cipher_start_src_offset, nb_descs);
 		if (unlikely(vc_req->wb == NULL)) {
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
@@ -1042,14 +1077,15 @@ prepare_sym_chain_op(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto, struct rte_crypto_op *op,
 
 		/** create a wb_data for digest */
 		ewb->next = prepare_write_back_data(vc_req, &desc, &ewb2,
-				digest_addr, 0, chain->para.hash_result_len);
+				digest_addr, 0, chain->para.hash_result_len,
+				nb_descs);
 		if (unlikely(ewb->next == NULL)) {
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_ERR;
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
 
 		if (unlikely(copy_data(digest_addr, vc_req, &digest_desc,
-				chain->para.hash_result_len)) < 0) {
+				chain->para.hash_result_len, nb_descs)) < 0) {
 			ret = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
@@ -1108,6 +1144,7 @@ vhost_crypto_process_one_req(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto,
 	struct vring_desc *desc = NULL;
 	uint64_t session_id;
 	uint64_t dlen;
+	uint32_t nb_descs = vq->size;
 	int err = 0;
 
 	vc_req->desc_idx = desc_idx;
@@ -1116,6 +1153,10 @@ vhost_crypto_process_one_req(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto,
 
 	if (likely(head->flags & VRING_DESC_F_INDIRECT)) {
 		dlen = head->len;
+		nb_descs = dlen / sizeof(struct vring_desc);
+		/* drop invalid descriptors */
+		if (unlikely(nb_descs > vq->size))
+			return -1;
 		desc = IOVA_TO_VVA(struct vring_desc *, vc_req, head->addr,
 				&dlen, VHOST_ACCESS_RO);
 		if (unlikely(!desc || dlen != head->len))
@@ -1138,8 +1179,8 @@ vhost_crypto_process_one_req(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto,
 			goto error_exit;
 		case RTE_VHOST_CRYPTO_ZERO_COPY_DISABLE:
 			req = &tmp_req;
-			if (unlikely(copy_data(req, vc_req, &desc, sizeof(*req))
-					< 0)) {
+			if (unlikely(copy_data(req, vc_req, &desc, sizeof(*req),
+					&nb_descs) < 0)) {
 				err = VIRTIO_CRYPTO_BADMSG;
 				VC_LOG_ERR("Invalid descriptor");
 				goto error_exit;
@@ -1152,7 +1193,7 @@ vhost_crypto_process_one_req(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto,
 		}
 	} else {
 		if (unlikely(move_desc(vc_req->head, &desc,
-				sizeof(*req)) < 0)) {
+				sizeof(*req), &nb_descs) < 0)) {
 			VC_LOG_ERR("Incorrect descriptor");
 			goto error_exit;
 		}
@@ -1193,11 +1234,13 @@ vhost_crypto_process_one_req(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto,
 			break;
 		case VIRTIO_CRYPTO_SYM_OP_CIPHER:
 			err = prepare_sym_cipher_op(vcrypto, op, vc_req,
-					&req->u.sym_req.u.cipher, desc);
+					&req->u.sym_req.u.cipher, desc,
+					&nb_descs);
 			break;
 		case VIRTIO_CRYPTO_SYM_OP_ALGORITHM_CHAINING:
 			err = prepare_sym_chain_op(vcrypto, op, vc_req,
-					&req->u.sym_req.u.chain, desc);
+					&req->u.sym_req.u.chain, desc,
+					&nb_descs);
 			break;
 		}
 		if (unlikely(err != 0)) {
@@ -1215,7 +1258,7 @@ vhost_crypto_process_one_req(struct vhost_crypto *vcrypto,
 
 error_exit:
 
-	inhdr = reach_inhdr(vc_req, desc);
+	inhdr = reach_inhdr(vc_req, desc, &nb_descs);
 	if (likely(inhdr != NULL))
 		inhdr->status = (uint8_t)err;
 
