CVE-2026-97922: Linux kernel · tracing: Free histogram var refs regardless of how often they are referenced
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · 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.
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
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 has been implemented in the Linux kernel to address this vulnerability by correcting the reference counting and freeing logic for histogram variable references. Users should update to a kernel version that includes this fix. Since this is not a cloud service, remediation requires applying the updated kernel package from the vendor or distribution.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's tracing subsystem causes a memory leak when the same variable is used three or more times in one histogram trigger. This occurs due to improper reference counting and freeing of variable references, leading to leaked variable references and associated strings when the trigger is removed. The issue has been resolved by changing the reference counting logic to free variable references unconditionally.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97922 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97922 (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)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97922 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a1f1d64a0a9791c842c4646253daf6ac0313eac7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b513a4c60a7aa1f4b4c2a48544ab003cb36f1e94 (opens in a new tab)