CVE-2026-97979

Kernel memory leak via missing xarray cleanup

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

Memory leak in the ice driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to consume kernel memory through repeated hardware reinitialization. The ice_init_hw function initializes the sched_node_ids xarray, but cleanup paths omit xa_destroy, so internal allocations remain after entries are removed. Reaching the flaw requires an Intel ice adapter and authority to reinitialize it, such as through devlink reload; repeated reinitialization increases unreleased kernel memory.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.17%
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 the ice driver in affected Linux kernels allows local users to consume kernel memory through repeated hardware reinitialization. The ice_init_hw function initializes the sched_node_ids xarray, but cleanup paths omit xa_destroy, so internal allocations remain after entries are removed. Reaching the flaw requires an Intel ice adapter and authority to reinitialize it, such as through devlink reload; repeated reinitialization increases unreleased kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97979
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=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <44cdd6b7e036303f7fecf841cf23c05a4a4faf2d
  2. Affected versionversion=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <53432c4c3e869076350aef319534431af8ba99c1
  3. Affected versionversion=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <d6f38fb12069fb1edf762962b5fcf3f42d643b47
  4. Affected versionversion=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <f5463bc124c0d6f922e272336584730c5c61c4f1
  5. Affected versionversion=6.1.95 <6.2
  6. Affected versionversion=6.2
  7. Affected versionversion=a388961be5ed8ee037ac68220e389bc4e9339a39

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <44cdd6b7e036303f7fecf841cf23c05a4a4faf2d; version=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <53432c4c3e869076350aef319534431af8ba99c1; version=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <d6f38fb12069fb1edf762962b5fcf3f42d643b47; version=16dfa49406bc5e1f4cbb115027cbd719d7e6c930 <f5463bc124c0d6f922e272336584730c5c61c4f1; version=6.1.95 <6.2; version=6.2; version=a388961be5ed8ee037ac68220e389bc4e9339a39

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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Your stack

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