CVE-2026-23296: Linux kernel · scsi: core: Fix refcount leak for tagset_refcnt
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · patch available : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available
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 25 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
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
An official patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions to resolve the refcount leak and prevent hangs during SCSI host teardown. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as recommended in the Ubuntu security advisory USN-8567-1. No additional mitigation is indicated.
Description
A refcount leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's SCSI core subsystem (CVE-2026-23296) has been fixed. The leak causes a hang when tearing down the SCSI host, leading to allocation failures and potential system hangs, such as the iscsid process hanging during SCSI scanning. This issue affects various Linux kernel versions including specific 4.15.x, 5.0.x, 5.3.x, and versions prior to 5.15.0-186.196. A patch is available to address this flaw.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23296 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23296 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1ac22c8eae81366101597d48360718dff9b9d980 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ac22c8eae81366101597d48360718dff9b9d980 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c01b680beaf4d3143866b062b8e770e8b237fb8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/944a333c8e4d42256556c1d2ebb6d773a33e0dcd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f5e4abed9248448aa1b45b12ab0bea4d329b56a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a03d96598d39fdf605d90731db3ef3b13fb8bdc8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec5c17c687b189dbc09dfdec11b669caa40bc395 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8567-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8596-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)