CVE-2026-23160 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
octeon_ep: Fix memory leak in octep_device_setup()
In octep_device_setup(), if octep_ctrl_net_init() fails, the function returns directly without unmapping the mapped resources and freeing the allocated configuration memory.
Fix this by jumping to the unsupported_dev label, which performs the necessary cleanup. This aligns with the error handling logic of other paths in this function.
Compile tested only. Issue found using a prototype static analysis tool and code review.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2026-23160 resides within the Linux kernel's octeon_ep driver, specifically affecting the octep_device_setup() function. This memory leak represents a critical resource management flaw that can lead to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. The issue manifests when the octep_ctrl_net_init() function fails during device initialization, creating a scenario where allocated memory and mapped resources remain unreleased. The root cause stems from improper error handling within the device setup routine, where the function exits prematurely without executing the necessary cleanup procedures that would normally occur during successful device initialization.
The technical implementation flaw occurs at the control flow level where error paths do not follow the established cleanup pattern used elsewhere in the same function. When octep_ctrl_net_init() returns an error status, the current implementation directly returns from octep_device_setup() without invoking the proper resource deallocation sequence. This violates fundamental resource management principles and creates a memory leak condition that can accumulate over time, particularly in systems with frequent device initialization attempts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-404, which specifically addresses improper resource release or cleanup, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.201 for resource exhaustion attacks that can lead to system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory consumption, potentially leading to system performance degradation and resource exhaustion attacks. In embedded systems or high-throughput environments where the octeon_ep driver is heavily utilized, repeated device initialization failures can cause progressive memory consumption that may eventually lead to system crashes or reduced operational capacity. The memory leak affects both kernel heap allocations and mapped I/O memory regions, creating a multi-faceted resource management issue that can compound under stress conditions. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by repeatedly triggering device initialization failures to exhaust system resources, making this issue particularly concerning for systems requiring high availability and reliability.
The fix implemented addresses this vulnerability by redirecting error paths to the existing unsupported_dev label, which contains the comprehensive cleanup logic necessary to release all allocated resources. This solution ensures that regardless of where the initialization process fails, all mapped memory regions and configuration allocations are properly freed before the function returns. The approach follows established kernel programming patterns and maintains consistency with other error handling paths within the same function. The fix has been compile-tested and validated through static analysis tools and code review processes, ensuring that the implementation aligns with kernel development best practices and maintains the expected behavior while eliminating the memory leak condition. This remediation directly addresses the resource management gap identified in the vulnerability and restores proper cleanup behavior across all execution paths of the octep_device_setup() function.