CVE-2026-72004: wifi: mac80211: fix memory leak in ieee80211_register_hw()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: mac80211: fix memory leak in ieee80211registerhw()
If kmemdup() fails while copying supported band structures, the error path jumps to failrate. This skips ratecontroldeinitialize() and leaks the initialized local->ratectrl.
Fix this by adding a failband label that shares the rate-control cleanup path before falling through to the remaining teardown.
The bug was first flagged by an experimental analysis tool we are developing for kernel memory-management bugs while analyzing v6.13-rc1. The tool is still under development and is not yet publicly available. Manual inspection confirms that the bug is still present in v7.1-rc7.
An x8664 allyesconfig build showed no new warnings. As we do not have a suitable mac80211 device/driver combination to test with, no runtime testing was able to be performed.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernelto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in v7.1-rc7 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Linux kernelto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in v6.13-rc1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-72004?
CVE-2026-72004 has a severity rating of 10, indicating a critical risk level.
How do I fix CVE-2026-72004?
To fix CVE-2026-72004, update to the latest version of the Linux kernel where this vulnerability is patched.
What does CVE-2026-72004 affect?
CVE-2026-72004 affects the Linux kernel specifically within the mac80211 subsystem related to memory management.
What happens if CVE-2026-72004 is exploited?
Exploitation of CVE-2026-72004 can lead to memory leaks, potentially causing resource exhaustion and stability issues.
Is there a workaround for CVE-2026-72004?
Currently, there is no recommended workaround for CVE-2026-72004 other than applying the necessary updates.