UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98351: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability

Q: Which systems are exposed to this issue?

Systems using the virt_wifi simulated wireless driver are exposed when its simulated link is disconnected and traffic is sent through that interface. The affected Ubuntu kernel package set listed includes linux, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-aws-fips, linux-azure-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp-fips, and linux-realtime.

Q: What is required to trigger the memory leak?

Packets must be transmitted through virt_wifi while the simulated link is disconnected. Each such transmission can leak the associated socket buffer because the transmit path reports the packet as consumed without freeing it.

Q: How can I tell whether the issue is occurring?

The observable condition is traffic being sent through a disconnected virt_wifi interface. The provided data does not specify a particular log message, counter, or other detection signature.

Published Oct 6, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: wifi: virtwifi: free skb when disconnected When the simulated link is disconnected, virtwifistartxmit() returns NETXMITDROP without freeing the skb. devhardstartxmit() treats this return value as consumed, so every packet sent while disconnected leaks its skb. Free the skb before returning the drop status.

Affected Software

226 affected componentsFixes available

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1

5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1

5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15<5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1

5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1

5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1

5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1

5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1

5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-iot*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1

5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1

5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1

5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2

5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-202.212

5.15.0-202.212

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1119.126

5.15.0-1119.126

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1125.134

5.15.0-1125.134

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1120.130

5.15.0-1120.130

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1115.121

5.15.0-1115.121

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1102.110

5.15.0-1102.110

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1113.117

5.15.0-1113.117

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1114.120

5.15.0-1114.120

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1111.116

5.15.0-1111.116

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-197.207

5.15.0-197.207

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1114.115

5.15.0-1114.115

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1070.72

5.15.0-1070.72

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1059.59

5.15.0-1059.59

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1116.122

5.15.0-1116.122

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1103.105

5.15.0-1103.105

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1111.115

5.15.0-1111.115

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1118.127

5.15.0-1118.127

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1119.126+fips1

5.15.0-1119.126+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1125.134+fips1

5.15.0-1125.134+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-202.212+fips1

5.15.0-202.212+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1120.130+fips1

5.15.0-1120.130+fips1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1

7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1

7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-42.42

7.0.0-42.42

ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1016.17

7.0.0-1016.17

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1016.18

7.0.0-1016.18

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*

ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1015.16

7.0.0-1015.16

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-42.42.1

7.0.0-42.42.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1115.121
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1102.110
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.116
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-197.207
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.115
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.72
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1059.59
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.122
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.105
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.127
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1
Upgrade
Upgrade to a fixed release to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Patch wifi: virt_wifi: free skb when disconnected

Event History

Oct 6, 2026

CVE Published

via OSV·09:18 AM

Data Sourced

via OSV·09:18 AM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

Systems using the virt_wifi simulated wireless driver are exposed when its simulated link is disconnected and traffic is sent through that interface. The affected Ubuntu kernel package set listed includes linux, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-aws-fips, linux-azure-fips, linux-fips, linux-gcp-fips, and linux-realtime.

What is required to trigger the memory leak?

Packets must be transmitted through virt_wifi while the simulated link is disconnected. Each such transmission can leak the associated socket buffer because the transmit path reports the packet as consumed without freeing it.

How can I tell whether the issue is occurring?

The observable condition is traffic being sent through a disconnected virt_wifi interface. The provided data does not specify a particular log message, counter, or other detection signature.

UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98351: Medium severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

What is required to trigger the memory leak?

How can I tell whether the issue is occurring?

Company

Resources

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