Linux Kernel up to 6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.2/6.19-rc2 cifs smb3_reconfigure memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.2/6.19-rc2. Affected by this issue is the function smb3_reconfigure of the component cifs. The manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2025-71151. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.2/6.19-rc2. Affected is the function smb3_reconfigure of the component cifs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. This is going to have an impact on availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cifs: Fix memory and information leak in smb3_reconfigure() In smb3_reconfigure(), if smb3_sync_session_ctx_passwords() fails, the function returns immediately without freeing and erasing the newly allocated new_password and new_password2. This causes both a memory leak and a potential information leak. Fix this by calling kfree_sensitive() on both password buffers before returning in this error case.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2025-71151 since 01/13/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 296410 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-71151), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.3 or 6.19-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch bc390b2737205163e48cc1655f6a0c8cd55b02fc/5679cc90bb5415801fa29041da0319d9e15d295d/bb82aaee16907dc4d0b9b0ca7953ceb3edc328c6/cb6d5aa9c0f10074f1ad056c3e2278ad2cc7ec8d is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (296410) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0215). VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• IBM QRadar SIEM
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.119
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
• 6.12.52
• 6.12.53
• 6.12.54
• 6.12.55
• 6.12.56
• 6.12.57
• 6.12.58
• 6.12.59
• 6.12.60
• 6.12.61
• 6.12.62
• 6.12.63
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.19-rc1
• 6.19-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Entryinfo

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

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