CVE-2026-74678

net: usb: ax88179_178a: fix skb leak in ax88179_tx_fixup()

Published Aug 22, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: usb: ax88179_178a: fix skb leak in ax88179_tx_fixup()

When the interface has NETIF_F_SG enabled and skb_linearize() fails in
ax88179_tx_fixup(), the function returns NULL without freeing the skb.

usbnet_start_xmit() treats a NULL return from tx_fixup() as a drop
(info->flags does not set FLAG_MULTI_PACKET for this driver), jumping
to the "drop" label where it does `if (skb) dev_kfree_skb_any(skb)`.
Because tx_fixup() returned NULL, the local skb variable in
usbnet_start_xmit() is NULL, so the original skb is never freed — a
memory leak on every TX frame whose linearization fails (i.e. under
memory pressure).

Free the skb before returning, matching the error handling already used
for the pskb_expand_head() failure path in the same function.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4777-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4788-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6466-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'yes', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-401
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-401
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-400
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-400
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: usb: ax88179_178a: fix skb leak in ax88179_tx_fixup() When the interface has NETIF_F_SG enabled and skb_linearize() fails in ax88179_tx_fixup(), the function returns NULL without freeing the skb. usbnet_start_xmit() treats a NULL return from tx_fixup() as a drop (info->flags does not set FLAG_MULTI_PACKET for this driver), jumping to the "drop" label where it does `if (skb) dev_kfree_skb_any(skb)`. Because tx_fixup() returned NULL, the local skb variable in usbnet_start_xmit() is NULL, so the original skb is never freed — a memory leak on every TX frame whose linearization fails (i.e. under memory pressure). Free the skb before returning, matching the error handling already used for the pskb_expand_head() failure path in the same function.
Title net: usb: ax88179_178a: fix skb leak in ax88179_tx_fixup()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 16, 2026, 7:16 PM
Reserved
Aug 15, 2026, 5:44 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 22, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Oct 16, 2026, 8:17 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Aug 22, 2026, 12:00 AM