Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3 RDMA/mad ib_mad_complete_recv memory leak

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7.2	$0-$5k	1.50-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3. This affects the function ib_mad_complete_recv of the component RDMA/mad. Such manipulation leads to memory leak. This vulnerability is referenced as CVE-2026-98354. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc3. Affected by this issue is the function ib_mad_complete_recv of the component RDMA/mad. 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: RDMA/mad: Fix receive buffer leak when PKey enforcement fails ib_mad_complete_recv() initializes mad_recv_wc->rmpp_list and then runs ib_mad_enforce_security() before linking recv_buf onto that list. On failure it calls ib_free_recv_mad(), which only walks rmpp_list and frees the ib_mad_private of every buffer found there. As the list is still empty at that point, nothing is freed at all. The caller cannot clean up either: ib_mad_recv_done() sets recv to NULL right after ib_mad_complete_recv() returns, assuming the MAD layer took ownership of the buffer. Every MAD that fails the PKey check therefore leaks one ib_mad_private (about 300 bytes per IB port MAD, ~2K for OPA), and a remote node can trigger this repeatedly by sending MADs with a wrong PKey. Link recv_buf onto rmpp_list right after the list is initialized, so the error path has something to free.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-98354 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 10/06/2026). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1499.

Upgrading to version 5.10.271, 5.15.222, 6.1.189, 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.54, 7.2.8 or 7.3-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4617c9a856188674dddb0ca66979746d07688579/8e2036fb47a5b152d53eadbd35abf311bd34cc7f/bad289e42f512646a988f278f536d21547df73f1/752b30e9d339008e5ce7eed412e9446078916129/39c4ea72a40503e102ae07e6776005f96ca078a6/5091e25ec503f7fc02723ca435226467b68caac7/c0d8df85db146d6275e226cb950023be69dd6c77/3476c28c9addfa253f505e6bd87f1f5598b961d0 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.270
• 5.15.221
• 6.1.188
• 6.6.157
• 6.12.111
• 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
• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52
• 6.18.53
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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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

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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: 🔒

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

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.271/5.15.222/6.1.189/6.6.158/6.12.112/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4
Patch: 4617c9a856188674dddb0ca66979746d07688579/8e2036fb47a5b152d53eadbd35abf311bd34cc7f/bad289e42f512646a988f278f536d21547df73f1/752b30e9d339008e5ce7eed412e9446078916129/39c4ea72a40503e102ae07e6776005f96ca078a6/5091e25ec503f7fc02723ca435226467b68caac7/c0d8df85db146d6275e226cb950023be69dd6c77/3476c28c9addfa253f505e6bd87f1f5598b961d0

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/06/2026 +11 days Advisory disclosed
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98354 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98354
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-414020

Entryinfo

Created: 10/06/2026 12:05
Changes: 10/06/2026 12:05 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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