CVE-2026-97922

Kernel memory exhaustion via histogram reference leak

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

Memory leak in Linux kernel tracing allows local users to consume kernel memory by repeatedly removing crafted histogram triggers. The shared var_refs array owns each reference once, but __destroy_hist_field() decrements a count raised for every reuse and leaves objects allocated after three or more references. Writing tracefs trigger files requires elevated local privileges; repeated trigger creation and removal exhausts memory and interrupts service.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory leak in Linux kernel tracing allows local users to consume kernel memory by repeatedly removing crafted histogram triggers. The shared var_refs array owns each reference once, but __destroy_hist_field() decrements a count raised for every reuse and leaves objects allocated after three or more references. Writing tracefs trigger files requires elevated local privileges; repeated trigger creation and removal exhausts memory and interrupts service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97922
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 25, 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=4.19.100 <4.20
  2. Affected versionversion=5.4.16 <5.5
  3. Affected versionversion=5.5
  4. Affected versionversion=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <4bddcb346a6cf4615ca77f69a589623b877ca267
  5. Affected versionversion=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <4cff53bb19412c6f2d90b50678de5c3903f7f96a
  6. Affected versionversion=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <94bbd65da4ae26592fa1977a74ee94218ab02a26
  7. Affected versionversion=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <e7b6d67b43caee9183a4374d23641578ea556e6c
  8. Affected versionversion=bf470f051556b610265ea02ad2102de75e8e619c
  9. Affected versionversion=ce28d664054df01997baace61d1defca77689798

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.19.100 <4.20; version=5.4.16 <5.5; version=5.5; version=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <4bddcb346a6cf4615ca77f69a589623b877ca267; version=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <4cff53bb19412c6f2d90b50678de5c3903f7f96a; version=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <94bbd65da4ae26592fa1977a74ee94218ab02a26; version=8bcebc77e85f3d7536f96845a0fe94b1dddb6af0 <e7b6d67b43caee9183a4374d23641578ea556e6c; version=bf470f051556b610265ea02ad2102de75e8e619c; version=ce28d664054df01997baace61d1defca77689798

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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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