CVE-2026-97473: Linux kernel · powercap: intel_rapl: Fix memory leak in rapl_add_package_cpuslocked()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 24 Sep 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 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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 fix for this memory leak vulnerability has been implemented in the Linux kernel. Users should apply the updated kernel versions that include this fix. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond updating to a patched kernel.
Description
A memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel's powercap intel_rapl driver was fixed. The issue occurred when certain topology functions returned negative values, causing the function rapl_add_package_cpuslocked() to return early without freeing allocated memory, leading to a leak on every failed package addition.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97473 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97473 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/992c60771749d8d8cbfbd06049785fff95c72df1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3e9e9337e03be946ec93f2c9d28dab242482be1b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bfc7d93bc5e12288e5dc6bb54260f68cdf5a5c47 (opens in a new tab)