CVE-2026-45961

Kernel memory exhaustion via GFS2 cleanup omissions

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Memory leaks in affected Linux Kernel GFS2 releases allow local users to consume kernel memory through failed read-write transitions. The gfs2_fill_super error path omits gfs2_destroy_threads after gfs2_freeze_lock_shared fails, while gfs2_make_fs_rw omits freeing an 8,192-byte quota bitmap after withdrawal. Triggering requires local access that can drive a GFS2 filesystem transition failure; the resulting unreleased threads and bitmap consume kernel memory.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leaks in affected Linux Kernel GFS2 releases allow local users to consume kernel memory through failed read-write transitions. The gfs2_fill_super error path omits gfs2_destroy_threads after gfs2_freeze_lock_shared fails, while gfs2_make_fs_rw omits freeing an 8,192-byte quota bitmap after withdrawal. Triggering requires local access that can drive a GFS2 filesystem transition failure; the resulting unreleased threads and bitmap consume kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-45961
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-401, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 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=2f8623377f3e0cfaa80558631b8694d02a492b4c
  2. Affected versionversion=5.10.173 <5.11
  3. Affected versionversion=5.15.99 <5.16
  4. Affected versionversion=6.1.16 <6.2
  5. Affected versionversion=6.2.3 <6.3
  6. Affected versionversion=6.3
  7. Affected versionversion=9fc32dad3cdba18669c71893f3e6d96905b39b3f
  8. Affected versionversion=b66f723bb552ad59c2acb5d45ea45c890f84498b <da6f5bbc2e7902f578b503f2a4c3d8d09ca4b102
  9. Affected versionversion=b66f723bb552ad59c2acb5d45ea45c890f84498b <e54229ecf49add8451d5f765a32c86ab4446e06c
  10. Affected versionversion=c2191e507147b1a22e9170ebb2aaa0f2902fcbfa
  11. Affected versionversion=c713ebf2fe3f469e4af4de60a3427689ffb7c5d7

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2f8623377f3e0cfaa80558631b8694d02a492b4c; version=5.10.173 <5.11; version=5.15.99 <5.16; version=6.1.16 <6.2; version=6.2.3 <6.3; version=6.3; version=9fc32dad3cdba18669c71893f3e6d96905b39b3f; version=b66f723bb552ad59c2acb5d45ea45c890f84498b <da6f5bbc2e7902f578b503f2a4c3d8d09ca4b102; version=b66f723bb552ad59c2acb5d45ea45c890f84498b <e54229ecf49add8451d5f765a32c86ab4446e06c; version=c2191e507147b1a22e9170ebb2aaa0f2902fcbfa; version=c713ebf2fe3f469e4af4de60a3427689ffb7c5d7

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

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 11, 2026Sep 17, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 17, 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
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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