CVE-2026-89982Hinoki check available

Kernel memory leak via unbalanced node reference

Published Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026

A reference leak in Linux kernel 3.5 and affected branches allows attackers to retain kernel memory when I2C mux registration fails. The i2c_mux_add_adapter() error path frees private adapter data without releasing its referenced Device Tree channel node. Reaching the flaw requires the adapter-registration failure path; upstream material identifies no unprivileged trigger or demonstrated service interruption.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probabilityUnavailable
No score available in this record
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

A reference leak in Linux kernel 3.5 and affected branches allows attackers to retain kernel memory when I2C mux registration fails. The i2c_mux_add_adapter() error path frees private adapter data without releasing its referenced Device Tree channel node. Reaching the flaw requires the adapter-registration failure path; upstream material identifies no unprivileged trigger or demonstrated service interruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-89982
Published
Sep 16, 2026
Updated
Sep 16, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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=3.5
  2. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <0927153f2abf48b6cc3e5f27063a17f7a8d47f38
  3. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <2b3b06cb709c4bf75a3fe3da3a0ca368ee3b40e5
  4. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <385c7af4e3b95d0769fd211831674e83b16a2ebf
  5. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <4c9bc46a2a4afb7a11c48d33bdf19febab431015
  6. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <4f42f70afd2447f3c82ca69d1e03466a75348ba9
  7. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <694e7e6edf249723ca7d3ef77c2ca1badfc78dc4
  8. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <b580f062b24c4eef562f08f210c028adb34ef14e
  9. Affected versionversion=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <dd2c1e6747b17b24ecddd48a7bb6bb964c2793d1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3.5; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <0927153f2abf48b6cc3e5f27063a17f7a8d47f38; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <2b3b06cb709c4bf75a3fe3da3a0ca368ee3b40e5; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <385c7af4e3b95d0769fd211831674e83b16a2ebf; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <4c9bc46a2a4afb7a11c48d33bdf19febab431015; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <4f42f70afd2447f3c82ca69d1e03466a75348ba9; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <694e7e6edf249723ca7d3ef77c2ca1badfc78dc4; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <b580f062b24c4eef562f08f210c028adb34ef14e; version=bc45449b1444611d68466ae7f45f235420d79019 <dd2c1e6747b17b24ecddd48a7bb6bb964c2793d1

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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