Linux Kernel up to 6.18.31/7.0.8/7.1-rc2 EDAC kzalloc memory leak

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.31/7.0.8/7.1-rc2. Affected by this vulnerability is the function kzalloc of the component EDAC. Performing a manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-46221. There is no exploit available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.31/7.0.8/7.1-rc2. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function kzalloc of the component EDAC. 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: EDAC/versalnet: Fix device name memory leak The device name allocated via kzalloc() in init_one_mc() is assigned to dev->init_name but never freed on the normal removal path. device_register() copies init_name and then sets dev->init_name to NULL, so the name pointer becomes unreachable from the device. Thus leaking memory. Use a stack-local char array instead of using kzalloc() for name.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-46221 since 05/13/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.32, 7.0.9 or 7.1-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 24d2912962d087ebff7c4984f8ac34a5f23c8dbf/b16033c8774f5fb4c0cb9b445a1dfc68f499ae6a/8cf5dd235eff6008cb04c3d8064d2acfa90616f1 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.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 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
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3
• 7.0.4
• 7.0.5
• 7.0.6
• 7.0.7
• 7.0.8
• 7.1-rc1
• 7.1-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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