CVE-2026-53379 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE • 07/19/2026
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
media: i2c: ov8856: free control handler on error in ov8856_init_controls()
The control handler wasn't freed if adding controls failed, add an error exit label and convert the existing error return to use it.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2026
This vulnerability exists within the linux kernel's media subsystem specifically in the i2c driver for the ov8856 camera sensor. The issue manifests as a resource management flaw where the control handler allocated during driver initialization is not properly released when subsequent control addition operations fail. This represents a classic memory leak scenario that can accumulate over time and potentially lead to system instability or denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation flaw occurs in the ov8856_init_controls() function where the driver allocates a control handler structure but fails to include proper error handling for the cleanup path. When the function encounters an error during the control registration process, it returns without freeing the previously allocated control handler memory. This pattern violates fundamental resource management principles and creates a persistent memory leak that grows with each failed initialization attempt.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability can lead to progressive memory consumption within the kernel space, particularly affecting systems running multiple camera sensor drivers or those experiencing frequent initialization failures. The accumulation of unreleased control handlers can eventually contribute to system performance degradation or even complete system crashes under high load conditions. This issue directly aligns with CWE-401 which categorizes improper resource management and memory leaks in software systems.
The vulnerability operates within the context of the linux kernel's media framework and i2c subsystem, where device drivers must properly manage their allocated resources throughout the entire initialization sequence. The solution implemented involves adding an error exit label to ensure that all allocated resources are properly cleaned up regardless of whether the control addition succeeds or fails. This approach follows established best practices for kernel development and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1490 which focuses on resource exhaustion attacks.
The fix addresses the root cause by ensuring that the control handler allocated during driver initialization is always freed when an error occurs during control registration, thereby preventing memory leaks in the kernel's media subsystem. This remediation maintains proper resource discipline and prevents accumulation of leaked resources that could impact system stability or performance over extended periods of operation.