CVE & CISA-KEV Catalog

CVE-2026-22979

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS v3
NVD

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: fix memory leak in skb_segment_list for GRO packets When skb_segment_list() is called during packet forwarding, it handles packets that were aggregated by the GRO engine. Historically, the segmentation logic in skb_segment_list assumes that individual segments are split from a parent SKB and may need to carry their own socket memory accounting. Accordingly, the code transfers truesize from the parent to the newly created segments. Prior to commit ed4cccef64c1 ("gro: fix ownership transfer"), this truesize subtraction in skb_segment_list() was valid because fragments still carry a reference to the original socket. However, commit ed4cccef64c1 ("gro: fix ownership transfer") changed this behavior by ensuring that fraglist entries are explicitly orphaned (skb->sk = NULL) to prevent illegal orphaning later in the stack. This change meant that the entire socket memory charge remained with the head SKB, but the corresponding accounting logic in skb_segment_list() was never updated. As a result, the current code unconditionally adds each fragment's truesize to delta_truesize and subtracts it from the parent SKB. Since the fragments are no longer charged to the socket, this subtraction results in an effective under-count of memory when the head is freed. This causes sk_wmem_alloc to remain non-zero, preventing socket destruction and leading to a persistent memory leak. The leak can be observed via KMEMLEAK when tearing down the networking environment: unreferenced object 0xffff8881e6eb9100 (size 2048): comm "ping", pid 6720, jiffies 4295492526 backtrace: kmem_cache_alloc_noprof+0x5c6/0x800 sk_prot_alloc+0x5b/0x220 sk_alloc+0x35/0xa00 inet6_create.part.0+0x303/0x10d0 __sock_create+0x248/0x640 __sys_socket+0x11b/0x1d0 Since skb_segment_list() is exclusively used for SKB_GSO_FRAGLIST packets constructed by GRO, the truesize adjustment is removed. The call to skb_release_head_state() must be preserved. As documented in commit cf673ed0e057 ("net: fix fraglist segmentation reference count leak"), it is still required to correctly drop references to SKB extensions that may be overwritten during __copy_skb_header().

How to fix

Remediation Available
linuxDebian
Fixed in:6.1.162-1CVE-2026-22979
Fixed in:6.12.69-1CVE-2026-22979
Fixed in:6.18.8-1CVE-2026-22979
linuxUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-awsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-aws-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-azureUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.62USN-8278-2
linux-azure-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1USN-8440-1
linux-azure-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65+fips1USN-8393-1
linux-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-116.116+fips1USN-8296-1
linux-gcpUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-gcp-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-gkeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-gkeopUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1041.44USN-8278-1
linux-ibmUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56USN-8278-1
linux-ibm-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56~22.04.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1024-nvidia-tegraUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-image-6.8.0-1024-nvidia-tegra-rtUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-image-6.8.0-1032-xilinxUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1032.33USN-8499-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1041-gkeopUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1041.44USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1054-gkeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1054-gke-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1054-nvidiaUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1054-nvidia-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1054-nvidia-lowlatencyUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1054-nvidia-lowlatency-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1055-awsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1055-aws-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1055-aws-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1055-ibmUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1056-azureUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.62USN-8278-2
linux-image-6.8.0-1056-raspiUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1058-gcpUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1058-gcp-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1058-gcp-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1059-azureUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1USN-8440-1
linux-image-6.8.0-1059-azure-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65+fips1USN-8393-1
linux-image-6.8.0-116-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-116.116+fips1USN-8296-1
linux-image-6.8.0-117-genericUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-117-generic-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-117-lowlatencyUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-117-lowlatency-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.0-2045-raspi-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-2045.46USN-8278-1
linux-image-6.8.1-1051-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52USN-8278-1
linux-image-aws-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-image-aws-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-image-aws-64k-lts-24.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-image-aws-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-image-aws-fips-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-image-aws-lts-24.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.58USN-8278-1
linux-image-azureUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1USN-8440-1
linux-image-azure-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1USN-8440-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.62USN-8278-2
linux-image-azure-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65+fips1USN-8393-1
linux-image-azure-fips-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1059.65+fips1USN-8393-1
linux-image-azure-lts-24.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.62USN-8278-2
linux-image-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-116.116+fips1USN-8296-1
linux-image-fips-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-116.116+fips1USN-8296-1
linux-image-gcp-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-image-gcp-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-image-gcp-64k-lts-24.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-image-gcp-fipsUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-image-gcp-fips-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61+fips1USN-8278-1
linux-image-gcp-lts-24.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1058.61USN-8278-1
linux-image-genericUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-generic-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-generic-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-generic-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-generic-lpaeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-gkeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-gke-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-gke-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-gke-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-gkeopUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1041.44USN-8278-1
linux-image-gkeop-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1041.44USN-8278-1
linux-image-ibmUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56USN-8278-1
linux-image-ibm-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56USN-8278-1
linux-image-ibm-classicUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56USN-8278-1
linux-image-ibm-lts-24.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1055.56USN-8278-1
linux-image-intel-iot-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52USN-8278-1
linux-image-intel-iotgUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-kvmUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-lowlatencyUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-lowlatency-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-lowlatency-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-lowlatency-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-lowlatency-64k-hwe-22.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-lowlatency-hwe-22.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-nvidiaUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-64k-hwe-22.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
linux-image-nvidia-hwe-22.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
linux-image-nvidia-lowlatencyUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-lowlatency-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-lowlatency-64kUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-lowlatency-64k-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-image-nvidia-tegraUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-image-nvidia-tegra-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-image-nvidia-tegra-rtUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-image-nvidia-tegra-rt-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-image-raspiUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-raspi-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.60USN-8278-1
linux-image-raspi-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-2045.46USN-8278-1
linux-image-raspi-realtime-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-2045.46USN-8278-1
linux-image-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52USN-8278-1
linux-image-realtime-6.8.1Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52~22.04.1USN-8278-1
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52USN-8278-1
linux-image-realtime-hwe-22.04Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52~22.04.1USN-8278-1
linux-image-virtualUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-virtual-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117USN-8278-1
linux-image-xilinxUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0.1032.33USN-8499-1
linux-image-xilinx-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0.1032.33USN-8499-1
linux-image-xilinx-zynqmpUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0.1032.33USN-8499-1
linux-lowlatencyUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1USN-8278-1
linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-117.117.1~22.04.1USN-8278-1
linux-nvidiaUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57USN-8289-1
linux-nvidia-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57~22.04.1USN-8289-2
linux-nvidia-lowlatencyUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1054.57.1USN-8289-1
linux-nvidia-tegraUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1024.24USN-8296-2
linux-raspiUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1056.60USN-8278-1
linux-raspi-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-2045.46USN-8278-1
linux-realtimeUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52USN-8278-1
linux-realtime-6.8Ubuntu
Fixed in:6.8.1-1051.52~22.04.1USN-8278-1
linux-xilinxUbuntu
Fixed in:6.8.0-1032.33USN-8499-1

Remediation is compiled from vendor and distribution security advisories. Always confirm against the linked source for your exact version and platform.

CVSS v3 Vector

Exploitability

Attack VectorLocal
Attack ComplexityLow
Privileges RequiredLow
User InteractionNone
ScopeUnchanged

Impact

ConfidentialityNone
IntegrityNone
AvailabilityHigh

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Exploit Intelligence

0.12%probability of exploitation in 30 days
2ndpercentile

Low risk: more likely to be exploited than 2% of all known CVEs.

References

Related Vulnerabilities

Other CWE-401 (Missing Release of Memory (Memory Leak)) vulnerabilities, ordered by exploit likelihood. View all

CVESeverityCVSSEPSSExploitedFix
CVE-2020-13934High7.564%-Fix
CVE-2016-6304High7.563%-Fix
CVE-2019-12265Medium5.355%-Fix
CVE-2001-0136Medium5.045%--
CVE-2016-4232High7.536%--
CVE-2001-0543Medium5.021%--
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This product uses NVD data but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS scores courtesy of FIRST.org (https://www.first.org/epss). Source: CISA KEV Catalog. Data as of 2026-02-26.