Kernel memory leak via failed RX allocation
Published Jan 5, 2026 · Updated Jan 5, 2026
Memory leak in the Linux Kernel rtl8180 driver allows attackers to retain kernel memory through failed RX-ring allocation. The rtl8180_init_rx_ring() error path exits after an skb or DMA allocation failure without releasing allocations completed earlier in the loop. Exposure requires the rtl8180 driver and a receive-ring allocation failure during device initialization; the published record identifies no attacker-controlled trigger or impact beyond retained kernel memory.
Summary
What happened
Memory leak in the Linux Kernel rtl8180 driver allows attackers to retain kernel memory through failed RX-ring allocation. The rtl8180_init_rx_ring() error path exits after an skb or DMA allocation failure without releasing allocations completed earlier in the loop. Exposure requires the rtl8180 driver and a receive-ring allocation failure during device initialization; the published record identifies no attacker-controlled trigger or impact beyond retained kernel memory.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-68759
- Published
- Jan 5, 2026
- Updated
- Jan 5, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- Unavailable
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jan 5, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jan 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.25
- Affected versionversion=f653211197f3841f383fa9757ef8ce182c6cf627 <9b5b9c042b30befc5b37e4539ace95af70843473
- Affected versionversion=f653211197f3841f383fa9757ef8ce182c6cf627 <a813a74570212cb5f3a7d3b05c0cb0cd00bace1d
- Affected versionversion=f653211197f3841f383fa9757ef8ce182c6cf627 <c9d1c4152e6d32fa74034464854bee262a60bc43
- Affected versionversion=f653211197f3841f383fa9757ef8ce182c6cf627 <ee7db11742b30641f21306105ad27a275e3c61d7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
No sourced classifications are available.
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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