CVE-2026-43225

Local service interruption via failure-path memory leak

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Memory leak in the Linux kernel rtl8723bs wireless driver allows local users to interrupt service by exhausting kernel memory. In rtw_cfg80211_inform_bss(), a NULL return from cfg80211_inform_bss_frame() formerly bypassed release of the allocated buf object. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and the affected rtl8723bs driver; repeated failure-path execution depletes memory without altering data.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in the Linux kernel rtl8723bs wireless driver allows local users to interrupt service by exhausting kernel memory. In rtw_cfg80211_inform_bss(), a NULL return from cfg80211_inform_bss_frame() formerly bypassed release of the allocated buf object. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access and the affected rtl8723bs driver; repeated failure-path execution depletes memory without altering data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43225
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <017295b17bf1f477246c95bd253a7ef0cb4684c9
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8311bb40698ba027649d5d1ca84ad4bf25270546
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9874e33ce52ba449ab0ade78752a2d37a2294617
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9f70f78e22b321429afc77befecedf05543d4e2c
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a968c6a39607c129b8ac2c3c2a5e8923574e90d0
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <abe850d82c8cb72d28700673678724e779b1826e
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <af48c1a0abe849e167fc754b6c260b6d8350b6fd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <017295b17bf1f477246c95bd253a7ef0cb4684c9; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8311bb40698ba027649d5d1ca84ad4bf25270546; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9874e33ce52ba449ab0ade78752a2d37a2294617; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9f70f78e22b321429afc77befecedf05543d4e2c; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a968c6a39607c129b8ac2c3c2a5e8923574e90d0; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <abe850d82c8cb72d28700673678724e779b1826e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <af48c1a0abe849e167fc754b6c260b6d8350b6fd

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-401Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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