Linux Kernel up to 6.18.9 liquidio setup_nic_devices memory leak

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5.5	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.9. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function setup_nic_devices of the component liquidio. The manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-23258. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.9. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function setup_nic_devices of the component liquidio. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory leak vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-401. The product does not sufficiently track and release allocated memory after it has been used, which slowly consumes remaining memory. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: liquidio: Initialize netdev pointer before queue setup In setup_nic_devices(), the netdev is allocated using alloc_etherdev_mq(). However, the pointer to this structure is stored in oct->props[i].netdev only after the calls to netif_set_real_num_rx_queues() and netif_set_real_num_tx_queues(). If either of these functions fails, setup_nic_devices() returns an error without freeing the allocated netdev. Since oct->props[i].netdev is still NULL at this point, the cleanup function liquidio_destroy_nic_device() will fail to find and free the netdev, resulting in a memory leak. Fix this by initializing oct->props[i].netdev before calling the queue setup functions. This ensures that the netdev is properly accessible for cleanup in case of errors. Compile tested only. Issue found using a prototype static analysis tool and code review.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-23258 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 315738 (Ubuntu 22.04 LTS / 24.04 LTS : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-8278-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.250, 5.15.200, 6.1.163, 6.6.124, 6.12.70 or 6.18.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch be109646cdaecab262f6276303b1763468c94378/c81a8515fb8c8fb5d0dbc21f48337494bf1d60df/a0e57c0b68c9e6f9a8fd7c1167861a5a730eb2f4/c0ed6c77ec34050971fd0df2a94dfdea66d09331/1d4590fde856cb94bd9a46e795c29d8288c238fc/d028147ae06407cb355245db1774793600670169/926ede0c85e1e57c97d64d9612455267d597bb2c 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 (315738) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0790). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

• Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.249
• 5.15.199
• 6.1.162
• 6.6.123
• 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
• 6.12.67
• 6.12.68
• 6.12.69
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory leak
CWE: CWE-401 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 315738
Nessus Name: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS / 24.04 LTS : Linux kernel vulnerabilities (USN-8278-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.250/5.15.200/6.1.163/6.6.124/6.12.70/6.18.10
Patch: be109646cdaecab262f6276303b1763468c94378/c81a8515fb8c8fb5d0dbc21f48337494bf1d60df/a0e57c0b68c9e6f9a8fd7c1167861a5a730eb2f4/c0ed6c77ec34050971fd0df2a94dfdea66d09331/1d4590fde856cb94bd9a46e795c29d8288c238fc/d028147ae06407cb355245db1774793600670169/926ede0c85e1e57c97d64d9612455267d597bb2c

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
03/18/2026 +64 days Advisory disclosed
03/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
06/01/2026 +74 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23258 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23258
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-351575
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0790 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 03/18/2026 19:50
Updated: 06/01/2026 00:36
Changes: 03/18/2026 19:50 (59), 03/19/2026 19:45 (7), 03/24/2026 18:41 (1), 05/21/2026 22:25 (2), 06/01/2026 00:36 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

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