Linux Kernel up to 6.18.39/7.1.4/7.2-rc3 mlx5 net/mlx5 mlx5_st_dealloc_index memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.39/7.1.4/7.2-rc3. It has been declared as critical. This impacts the function mlx5_st_dealloc_index of the file net/mlx5 of the component mlx5. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-72006. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.39/7.1.4/7.2-rc3. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function mlx5_st_dealloc_index of the file net/mlx5 of the component mlx5. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/mlx5: free mlx5_st_idx_data on final dealloc Workloads that repeatedly allocate and release mkeys carrying TPH steering-tag hints (e.g. churning RDMA MRs) leak one struct mlx5_st_idx_data per cycle; kmemleak flags it as unreferenced and the kmalloc slab grows over time. When the last reference to an ST table entry is dropped, mlx5_st_dealloc_index() removed the entry from idx_xa but the backing mlx5_st_idx_data allocation was never freed. Free idx_data after the xa_erase() so the lifetime of the bookkeeping struct matches the lifetime of the ST entry it tracks.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-72006 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/02/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 262da8b6ea03d01ee7ed01ad309e4c89941f6b14/6eb4cf2fa8997f62c11e0006dc010a1fd89c5a75/df6134b527a88b3e65ba6ae5073664af091d5fd2 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-2852). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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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: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc4
Patch: 262da8b6ea03d01ee7ed01ad309e4c89941f6b14/6eb4cf2fa8997f62c11e0006dc010a1fd89c5a75/df6134b527a88b3e65ba6ae5073664af091d5fd2

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/02/2026 +18 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72006 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72006
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390410
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-2852 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 11:01
Updated: 09/02/2026 10:09
Changes: 08/15/2026 11:01 (60), 09/02/2026 10:09 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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