CVE-2026-23339: Linux kernel · nfc: nci: free skb on nci_transceive early error paths
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 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 – fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2 +63
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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?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. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this issue has been fixed. Systems running affected versions should upgrade to the patched kernel releases to remediate this vulnerability.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's NFC subsystem (nci_transceive) was resolved. The function nci_transceive() improperly handles skb memory on certain early error paths, leading to memory leaks. This flaw was detected by kmemleak during self-tests and affects specific Linux kernel versions. The vulnerability has a medium severity score and does not impact confidentiality or integrity but can cause availability issues due to memory leaks. A patch is available to fix this issue.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23339 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23339 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/7bd4b0c4779f978a6528c9b7937d2ca18e936e2c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3245801d44a44c090acefe19a12d22d12cac45c5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/33f6b8a96dda045789796c3bcb451c74ac158039 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/54f7f0eaafa56b5994cdb5c7967946922c2e1d22 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7bd4b0c4779f978a6528c9b7937d2ca18e936e2c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d448bbab724b94d6c561e1f314656f5b88a7cb3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dcbcccfc5195c9caaa4bb8d31f23c345f00a9e89 (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)