Linux Kernel up to 6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5 udp_tunnel udp_tunnel_nic.c udp_tunnel_nic_unregister memory leak

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4.5$0-$5k0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5. This affects the function udp_tunnel_nic_unregister of the file net/ipv4/udp_tunnel_nic.c of the component udp_tunnel. The manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-74543. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is the function udp_tunnel_nic_unregister of the file net/ipv4/udp_tunnel_nic.c of the component udp_tunnel. 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 confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: udp_tunnel: fix memory leak in udp_tunnel_nic_unregister() syzbot reported a memory leak [1] in the UDP tunnel NIC offload code. When device registration fails (e.g. in register_netdevice()), netdev core unwinds by sending a single NETDEV_UNREGISTER notification. If work was queued during NETDEV_REGISTER (utn->work_pending is set), udp_tunnel_nic_unregister() returns early: if (utn->work_pending) return; Because failed registrations do not enter netdev_wait_allrefs_any(), no subsequent NETDEV_UNREGISTER rebroadcast will ever occur. As a result, the struct udp_tunnel_nic allocated in udp_tunnel_nic_alloc() is leaked permanently. Fix this by removing the early return. Instead, synchronously cancel any pending work with cancel_delayed_work_sync() before freeing @utn. To be able to call cancel_delayed_work_sync() while holding RTNL (the work also needs RTNL), switch udp_tunnel_nic_device_sync_work() to rtnl_trylock(). If RTNL is contended, requeue the work with a 1 jiffy delay (via queue_delayed_work()) to prevent high CPU contention while waiting for RTNL lock. The utn->work_pending bookkeeping is no longer needed and is removed, as the workqueue core already tracks the pending/running state of the work. [1] BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff888127d5f840 (size 96): comm "syz-executor", pid 5806, jiffies 4294942188 backtrace (crc 99fdb6c8): __kmalloc_noprof+0x3bf/0x550 udp_tunnel_nic_alloc net/ipv4/udp_tunnel_nic.c:756 [inline] udp_tunnel_nic_register net/ipv4/udp_tunnel_nic.c:833 [inline] udp_tunnel_nic_netdevice_event+0x804/0xab0 net/ipv4/udp_tunnel_nic.c:931 notifier_call_chain+0x59/0x160 kernel/notifier.c:85 call_netdevice_notifiers_info+0x7d/0xb0 net/core/dev.c:2250 register_netdevice+0xc10/0xeb0 net/core/dev.c:11478

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-74543 since 08/15/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.

Upgrading to version 6.12.103, 6.18.44, 7.1.8 or 7.2-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b712da45bd9b9835d132e9fbc0c3e43c164cb1fd/f82a2ded3d7a9098267c84f14eafdb98c4550ac5/b322532a4b774db1b480a2de84125910a70739a5/080695e6f005e2396f1207fd69d24c442cb230c6 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.5

VulDB Base Score: 4.7
VulDB Temp Score: 4.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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
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 6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8/7.2-rc6
Patch: b712da45bd9b9835d132e9fbc0c3e43c164cb1fd/f82a2ded3d7a9098267c84f14eafdb98c4550ac5/b322532a4b774db1b480a2de84125910a70739a5/080695e6f005e2396f1207fd69d24c442cb230c6

Timelineinfo

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

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74543 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74543
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390876

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 15:54
Changes: 08/15/2026 15:54 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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