Linux Kernel up to 6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5 octep_vf_request_irqs use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5. The affected element is the function octep_vf_request_irqs. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-23013. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.66/6.18.6/6.19-rc5 and classified as critical. This vulnerability affects the function octep_vf_request_irqs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: octeon_ep_vf: fix free_irq dev_id mismatch in IRQ rollback octep_vf_request_irqs() requests MSI-X queue IRQs with dev_id set to ioq_vector. If request_irq() fails part-way, the rollback loop calls free_irq() with dev_id set to 'oct', which does not match the original dev_id and may leave the irqaction registered. This can keep IRQ handlers alive while ioq_vector is later freed during unwind/teardown, leading to a use-after-free or crash when an interrupt fires. Fix the error path to free IRQs with the same ioq_vector dev_id used during request_irq().

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-23013 since 01/13/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 03/27/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 296529 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23013), 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 aa05a8371ae4a452df623f7202c72409d3c50e40/aa4c066229b05fc3d3c5f42693d25b1828533b6e/f93fc5d12d69012788f82151bee55fce937e1432 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 (296529), EUVD (EUVD-2026-4616) 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
• 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/

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

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