CVE-2026-97959: Linux kernel · net/sched: cls_route: free emptied bucket on filter move
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in f8495d67434e1cb7e511297687ca55fdb28e4c20 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated Low by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f8495d67434e1cb7e511297687ca55fdb28e4c20, cc99d26b12431e4e4d0e346ec32764eb42c0aed9, 1853f30cf5c84971f99788a76207c6f745380896 +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
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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AI-suggested
This vulnerability has been fixed in the Linux kernel by commits that implement reference counting for filters linked to buckets and free buckets when empty. Users should update to a Linux kernel version that includes these fixes. The fixed versions are identified by the provided commit hashes. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's net/sched cls_route component causes a memory leak by not freeing emptied buckets when filters are moved between buckets. This occurs because the bucket remains in the routing table even after all filters are unlinked, leading to a stale empty bucket and a pinned tcf_proto structure.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e7741b41a25b9d49df4d262fa314342e6f95c50 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/48d38bf8c22a05fde07ba1f885cde27b851649a2 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc99d26b12431e4e4d0e346ec32764eb42c0aed9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/41e94079200aaf0cdbe4594b0af75710b33da124 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2e2f130951d34871b0643bf700164d97cff4b427 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f8495d67434e1cb7e511297687ca55fdb28e4c20 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/81dd117c04422c6d0c7974aba9fa6a0ba370959b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1853f30cf5c84971f99788a76207c6f745380896 (opens in a new tab)