Memory leak in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-53079
Published: June 25, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU135249
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 6.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-53079
CWE-ID: CWE-401
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a local user to cause a denial of service.
The vulnerability exists due to a memory leak in qdisc_dequeue_drop() and deferred qdisc drop handling when cleaning up deferred packet drops. A local user can trigger packet drops through a child qdisc whose root qdisc does not implement the TCQ_F_DEQUEUE_DROPS flag to cause a denial of service.
The issue occurs because packets can remain stranded on a child qdisc's local to_free list instead of being freed.
Affected software
Linux kernel
Ubuntu
linux (Ubuntu package)
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package)
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-bos (Ubuntu package)
Ubuntu
linux (Ubuntu package)
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package)
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-bos (Ubuntu package)
How to mitigate CVE-2026-53079
Install security update from vendor's repository.
Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3
linux (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-28.28, 7.0.0-28.28.1, 7.0.0-1003.4, 7.0.0-1008.8
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1008.8, 7.0.0-1010.10
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1009.9
linux-azure (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1009.9, 7.0.0-1010.10
linux-aws (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1009.9, 7.0.0-1015.15
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1016.16, 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
linux-nvidia-bos (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-2016.16
linux (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-28.28, 7.0.0-28.28.1, 7.0.0-1003.4, 7.0.0-1008.8
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1008.8, 7.0.0-1010.10
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1009.9
linux-azure (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1009.9, 7.0.0-1010.10
linux-aws (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1009.9, 7.0.0-1015.15
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1016.16, 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
linux-nvidia-bos (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-2016.16