CVE-2026-72040
ipmi: fix refcount leak in i_ipmi_request()
Published Aug 15, 2026
CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium
EPSS < 1%
KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ipmi: fix refcount leak in i_ipmi_request()
When a caller provides a `supplied_recv` message to i_ipmi_request(),
the function increments the user's `nr_msgs` reference count. If an
error occurs later, the out_err cleanup path only frees the recv_msg
if the function allocated it itself (i.e., !supplied_recv). In the
supplied_recv case the cleanup is skipped, leaving the reference count
elevated. The caller ipmi_request_supply_msgs() does not release the
supplied_recv on error, so the reference is permanently leaked.
Fix this by explicitly reverting the reference count operations when a
supplied recv_msg with a valid user pointer is present in the error
path: decrement nr_msgs and drop the user's kref.
ipmi: fix refcount leak in i_ipmi_request()
When a caller provides a `supplied_recv` message to i_ipmi_request(),
the function increments the user's `nr_msgs` reference count. If an
error occurs later, the out_err cleanup path only frees the recv_msg
if the function allocated it itself (i.e., !supplied_recv). In the
supplied_recv case the cleanup is skipped, leaving the reference count
elevated. The caller ipmi_request_supply_msgs() does not release the
supplied_recv on error, so the reference is permanently leaked.
Fix this by explicitly reverting the reference count operations when a
supplied recv_msg with a valid user pointer is present in the error
path: decrement nr_msgs and drop the user's kref.
Affected Products
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CVE record
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NVD configurations
No data
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Red Hat packages
No data
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OpenCVE enrichment
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
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| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
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No data.
No data.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux Kernel |
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| Linux | Linux Kernel |
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Remediation
Tracking
Advisories
| Source | ID | Title |
|---|---|---|
 Debian DLA |
DLA-4745-1 | linux-6.12 security update |
| Debian DLA |
DLA-4777-1 | linux security update |
 Ubuntu USN |
USN-8887-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8888-1 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8889-1 | Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8887-2 | Linux kernel (AWS) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8888-2 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8887-3 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8917-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-8918-1 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9003-1 | Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9024-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9025-1 | Linux kernel vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9026-1 | Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9040-1 | Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9043-1 | Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9066-1 | Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities |
| Ubuntu USN |
USN-9091-1 | Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities |
Metrics
No CVSS v4.0
Attack Vector Local
Attack Complexity Low
Privileges Required Low
Scope Unchanged
Confidentiality Impact None
Integrity Impact None
Availability Impact High
User Interaction None
No CVSS v3.0
No CVSS v2
This CVE is not in the KEV list.
Exploit prediction score: < 1% (0.211% probability within 30 days)
Exploitation none
Automatable no
Technical Impact partial
References
History
Nov 7, 2026 7:30 AM
Scoring metrics updated
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Metrics |
ssvc
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Aug 23, 2026 1:15 PM
Added references
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| References |
|
Aug 18, 2026 12:15 AM
Weaknesses updated. Added references. Scoring metrics updated
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-911 | |
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
threat_severity
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cvssV3_1
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Aug 15, 2026 9:00 PM
Weaknesses updated
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-401 |
Aug 15, 2026 6:00 AM
Description updated. Title updated. First appearance in the feed. Affected versions updated. Affected vendors updated. Added references
View changes
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipmi: fix refcount leak in i_ipmi_request() When a caller provides a `supplied_recv` message to i_ipmi_request(), the function increments the user's `nr_msgs` reference count. If an error occurs later, the out_err cleanup path only frees the recv_msg if the function allocated it itself (i.e., !supplied_recv). In the supplied_recv case the cleanup is skipped, leaving the reference count elevated. The caller ipmi_request_supply_msgs() does not release the supplied_recv on error, so the reference is permanently leaked. Fix this by explicitly reverting the reference count operations when a supplied recv_msg with a valid user pointer is present in the error path: decrement nr_msgs and drop the user's kref. | |
| Title | ipmi: fix refcount leak in i_ipmi_request() | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
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| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
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