CVE-2026-23261: Linux kernel · nvme-fc: release admin tagset if init fails
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1057.60~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1057.60~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1059.65~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 +27
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 18 Mar 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-40.40?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1019.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1020.20?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1020.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1018.18?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and has been released in Linux kernel versions 6.8.0-1057.60~22.04.1 and later. Users should update their Linux kernel to these or newer versions to apply the official fix. After updating, a system reboot is required to complete remediation. No additional mitigation steps are indicated by the vendor advisory.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel NVMe over Fibre Channel (nvme-fc) subsystem was resolved that involved a resource leak when initializing the NVMe/FC controller fails. Specifically, if the admin tagset allocation succeeds but subsequent initialization steps fail, the admin tagset was not freed, causing a memory leak. This issue was fixed by ensuring the admin tagset is released on failure during controller setup. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.5 (medium severity) with no confidentiality or integrity impact but with potential availability impact due to resource leakage. A patch is available and included in Linux kernel versions 6.8.0 and later. Users should update to patched kernel versions to remediate this issue.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23261 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23261 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/d1877cc7270302081a315a81a0ee8331f19f95c8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c54d3f5ebbc5982daaa004260242dc07ac943ea (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b134dead095bc5a58fa2b98b90ae93428cb4b328 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d1877cc7270302081a315a81a0ee8331f19f95c8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e810b290922c535feb34bc90ab549446fe94d2a3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/fa301aef50e3f3b5be6ee53457608beae5aa7a01 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8278-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8289-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8296-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8296-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8289-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8278-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8393-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8440-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8499-1 (opens in a new tab)