CVE-2026-97922: Linux kernel · tracing: Free histogram var refs regardless of how often they are referenced
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in e7b6d67b43caee9183a4374d23641578ea556e6c : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated Low by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in e7b6d67b43caee9183a4374d23641578ea556e6c, b513a4c60a7aa1f4b4c2a48544ab003cb36f1e94, a1f1d64a0a9791c842c4646253daf6ac0313eac7 +5
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel versions 4.20, 5.5, and related commits. Users should upgrade to these fixed versions or later to remediate the issue.
Description
A memory leak vulnerability in the Linux kernel tracing subsystem occurs when the same variable is used three or more times in a histogram trigger. This causes variable references and associated strings to leak when the trigger is removed. The issue arises from incorrect reference counting and freeing logic in the histogram variable reference management.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a1f1d64a0a9791c842c4646253daf6ac0313eac7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b513a4c60a7aa1f4b4c2a48544ab003cb36f1e94 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e7b6d67b43caee9183a4374d23641578ea556e6c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4cff53bb19412c6f2d90b50678de5c3903f7f96a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/94bbd65da4ae26592fa1977a74ee94218ab02a26 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bddcb346a6cf4615ca77f69a589623b877ca267 (opens in a new tab)