Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8 ax88179_178a ax88179_178a.c ax88179_tx_fixup memory leak

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.2$0-$5k3.02

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.182/6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8. This affects the function ax88179_tx_fixup of the file drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c of the component ax88179_178a. The manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-74678. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.182/6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8. Affected is the function ax88179_tx_fixup of the file drivers/net/usb/ax88179_178a.c of the component ax88179_178a. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: ax88179_178a: fix skb leak in ax88179_tx_fixup() When the interface has NETIF_F_SG enabled and skb_linearize() fails in ax88179_tx_fixup(), the function returns NULL without freeing the skb. usbnet_start_xmit() treats a NULL return from tx_fixup() as a drop (info->flags does not set FLAG_MULTI_PACKET for this driver), jumping to the "drop" label where it does `if (skb) dev_kfree_skb_any(skb)`. Because tx_fixup() returned NULL, the local skb variable in usbnet_start_xmit() is NULL, so the original skb is never freed — a memory leak on every TX frame whose linearization fails (i.e. under memory pressure). Free the skb before returning, matching the error handling already used for the pskb_expand_head() failure path in the same function.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-74678 since 08/15/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. 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 08/22/2026). This vulnerability is assigned to T1499 by the MITRE ATT&CK project.

Upgrading to version 6.1.183, 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45 or 7.1.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 83a765cbd7b4d11b0b9fa1bb9d941ae911a2159b/1c63303659a2264bd55d9813df74cb4caeed5922/2be5091fa693b9119ad25a8bb8c149d236a23ade/58733b1dd46bb231d9d279c132a20ee46da1b664/4039cd807a5a46dc5f7618fffae926b8ad8455eb/1f428e30947395d9b9aacee03e25a4e6cfcad7a4 is able to eliminate this problem.

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

Productinfo

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Vendor

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Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
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 6.1.183/6.6.152/6.12.104/6.18.45/7.1.9
Patch: 83a765cbd7b4d11b0b9fa1bb9d941ae911a2159b/1c63303659a2264bd55d9813df74cb4caeed5922/2be5091fa693b9119ad25a8bb8c149d236a23ade/58733b1dd46bb231d9d279c132a20ee46da1b664/4039cd807a5a46dc5f7618fffae926b8ad8455eb/1f428e30947395d9b9aacee03e25a4e6cfcad7a4

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/22/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74678 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74678
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-394506

Entryinfo

Created: 08/22/2026 19:09
Changes: 08/22/2026 19:09 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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