CVE-2026-97923Hinoki check available

Kernel memory leak via failed var-ref initialization

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

Memory leak in Linux kernel histogram variable-reference creation allows attackers to consume kernel memory via invalid trigger setup. create_var_ref() calls ordinary destruction after init_var_ref() fails, but that destructor skips VAR_REF fields not yet added to the trigger array. Reachability requires histogram-trigger configuration access and an initialization failure; the source does not establish service interruption or privilege gain.

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

What happened

Memory leak in Linux kernel histogram variable-reference creation allows attackers to consume kernel memory via invalid trigger setup. create_var_ref() calls ordinary destruction after init_var_ref() fails, but that destructor skips VAR_REF fields not yet added to the trigger array. Reachability requires histogram-trigger configuration access and an initialization failure; the source does not establish service interruption or privilege gain.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97923
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

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=5.0
  3. Affected versionversion=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <222abcbe7866fef04563b6eb89fb21f627dcbc77
  4. Affected versionversion=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <516001d53e6b2ea95a251ee2ef54a1a689a3fd58
  5. Affected versionversion=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <74375caa20fe5165807b4334c783d1790b01f02a
  6. Affected versionversion=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <a69baeac38677270656e85753d93856a076dee57
  7. Affected versionversion=836717841a30d7845cdf9cb806ee0ff3bfa7135a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.19.100 <4.20; version=5.0; version=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <222abcbe7866fef04563b6eb89fb21f627dcbc77; version=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <516001d53e6b2ea95a251ee2ef54a1a689a3fd58; version=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <74375caa20fe5165807b4334c783d1790b01f02a; version=656fe2ba85e81d00e4447bf77b8da2be3c47acb2 <a69baeac38677270656e85753d93856a076dee57; version=836717841a30d7845cdf9cb806ee0ff3bfa7135a

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
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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