Kernel memory exhaustion via netdev unregister race
Published Apr 3, 2026 · Updated Apr 3, 2026
Race condition in Linux Kernel 6.13 through 7.0-rc4 allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through Netlink shaper SET operations. The pre-callback holds only a netdev reference, so unregister can complete before the callback locks the device and allocates a shaper hierarchy after its flush. Low-privileged local access and concurrent device removal are required; repeated leaked hierarchies can interrupt system availability.
Summary
What happened
Race condition in Linux Kernel 6.13 through 7.0-rc4 allows local users to exhaust kernel memory through Netlink shaper SET operations. The pre-callback holds only a netdev reference, so unregister can complete before the callback locks the device and allocates a shaper hierarchy after its flush. Low-privileged local access and concurrent device removal are required; repeated leaked hierarchies can interrupt system availability.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-23436
- Published
- Apr 3, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 3, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 3, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 3, 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=6.13
- Affected versionversion=93954b40f6a4fc43226c01a15b02732f884500f1 <719f6784f918f9e32f3ff3b197f900e852223f9d
- Affected versionversion=93954b40f6a4fc43226c01a15b02732f884500f1 <d22921727023e7852704965e935f4d1fc83a5ec9
- Affected versionversion=93954b40f6a4fc43226c01a15b02732f884500f1 <d75ec7e8ba1979a1eb0b9211d94d749cdce849c8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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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