Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4 ENA Driver ena_probe memory leak

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4.0	$0-$5k	1.34-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. It has been declared as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function ena_probe of the component ENA Driver. The manipulation results in memory leak. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-98486. The attack needs to be approached locally. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. Affected is the function ena_probe of the component ENA Driver. 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: ena: fix MMIO read buffer leak on probe failure ena_device_init() initializes the MMIO read mechanism with ena_com_mmio_reg_read_request_init(), which allocates a coherent DMA buffer for MMIO read responses. The normal removal path releases this buffer through ena_com_mmio_reg_read_request_destroy(). However, if ena_probe() fails after ena_device_init() succeeds, the error path destroys the admin resources and eventually frees ena_dev without destroying the MMIO read request, leaving the coherent DMA buffer allocated. Call ena_com_mmio_reg_read_request_destroy() in the probe error path before releasing the remaining device resources. This issue was found by manual code inspection.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98486 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are necessary for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 7bd3e9a2d0c288e54f51df260d9433163f5fbc1e/30ff01b4c7e419bb70f40f01dcd7f6af680808b3/47785f9f638b064ce6e32e8e3b6f1ffd83849fc2/9476b4468862927297c94c440863cd8ed1e7cc83 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

• 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
• 6.18.54
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3
• 7.3-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Temp Score: 4.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
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 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: 7bd3e9a2d0c288e54f51df260d9433163f5fbc1e/30ff01b4c7e419bb70f40f01dcd7f6af680808b3/47785f9f638b064ce6e32e8e3b6f1ffd83849fc2/9476b4468862927297c94c440863cd8ed1e7cc83

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98486 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98486
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422148

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 20:41
Changes: 10/18/2026 20:41 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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