Linux Kernel up to 6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5 j1939_xtp_rx_rts_session_active reference count

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5. Affected by this issue is the function j1939_xtp_rx_rts_session_active. The manipulation leads to reference count. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-22997. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function j1939_xtp_rx_rts_session_active. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a reference count vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-911. The product uses a reference count to manage a resource, but it does not update or incorrectly updates the reference count. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: can: j1939: j1939_xtp_rx_rts_session_active(): deactivate session upon receiving the second rts Since j1939_session_deactivate_activate_next() in j1939_tp_rxtimer() is called only when the timer is enabled, we need to call j1939_session_deactivate_activate_next() if we cancelled the timer. Otherwise, refcount for j1939_session leaks, which will later appear as | unregister_netdevice: waiting for vcan0 to become free. Usage count = 2. problem.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-22997 since 01/13/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 296530 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-22997), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.12.67, 6.18.7 or 6.19-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch cb2a610867bc379988bae0bb4b8bbc59c0decf1a/6121b7564c725b632ffe4764abe85aa239d37703/1809c82aa073a11b7d335ae932d81ce51a588a4a 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 (296530), EUVD (EUVD-2026-4637) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0215). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Debian Linux
• Amazon Linux 2
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Ubuntu Linux
• SUSE Linux
• Oracle Linux
• SUSE openSUSE
• RESF Rocky Linux
• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.12.64
• 6.12.65
• 6.12.66
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.19-rc1
• 6.19-rc2
• 6.19-rc3
• 6.19-rc4
• 6.19-rc5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

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Entryinfo

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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