CVE-2026-23031 can: gs_usb: gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback(): fix URB memory leak
A memory leak in the Linux kernel gs_usb driver allows local attackers to cause denial of service by exhausting kernel memory.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-23031?
CVE-2026-23031 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 31 Jan 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
can: gs_usb: gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback(): fix URB memory leak
In gs_can_open(), the URBs for USB-in transfers are allocated, added to the parent->rx_submitted anchor and submitted. In the complete callback gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback(), the URB is processed and resubmitted. In gs_can_close() the URBs are freed by calling usb_kill_anchored_urbs(parent->rx_submitted).
However, this does not take into account that the USB framework unanchors the URB before the complete function is called. This means that once an in-URB has been completed, it is no longer anchored and is ultimately not released in gs_can_close().
Fix the memory leak by anchoring the URB in the gs_usb_receive_bulk_callback() to the parent->rx_submitted anchor.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-23031?
How do I fix CVE-2026-23031?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.
Is CVE-2026-23031 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23031 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-77334, BELL-CVE-2026-23031, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23031, GHSA-gvm4-5v6x-vmv9, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-23031, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-23031 and 4 more.