CVE-2026-99080

Memory leak via incomplete inode xarray cleanup

Published Oct 23, 2026 · Updated Oct 23, 2026

A memory leak in Linux inode cleanup allows local users to retain kernel allocations through madvise-triggered operations. In fs/inode.c, clear_inode() leaves empty i_pages xarray nodes allocated after partial tree expansion failures or transparent huge page collapse. Triggering requires local execution of the relevant memory-management operations; the disclosed consequence is retained kernel memory, with no demonstrated crash or hang.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Nov 1, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A memory leak in Linux inode cleanup allows local users to retain kernel allocations through madvise-triggered operations. In fs/inode.c, clear_inode() leaves empty i_pages xarray nodes allocated after partial tree expansion failures or transparent huge page collapse. Triggering requires local execution of the relevant memory-management operations; the disclosed consequence is retained kernel memory, with no demonstrated crash or hang.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-99080
Published
Oct 23, 2026
Updated
Oct 23, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 23, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 23, 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=0 <6.12.113
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <6.18.57
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <6.6.160
  4. Affected versionversion=0 <7.2.11
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <21f51434c47d8628b62275ae6c6ad6b573abcd02
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <43f830e2bb84b22ca824b20bb861d823ecb520bd
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <50cff3f112d64db6e5f57355f79bc837db8fe132
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ee3f011250104129893d8e9599147e457d4d7280
  9. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f1c966eb6ed5e190c90a56c5bdaa69967de39f21

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0 <6.12.113; version=0 <6.18.57; version=0 <6.6.160; version=0 <7.2.11; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <21f51434c47d8628b62275ae6c6ad6b573abcd02; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <43f830e2bb84b22ca824b20bb861d823ecb520bd; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <50cff3f112d64db6e5f57355f79bc837db8fe132; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ee3f011250104129893d8e9599147e457d4d7280; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f1c966eb6ed5e190c90a56c5bdaa69967de39f21

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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