CVE-2026-46102 net: strparser: fix skb_head leak in strp_abort_strp()
A memory leak in the Linux kernel's stream parser allows attackers to exhaust system memory by repeatedly aborting stream parsing, causing denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-46102?
CVE-2026-46102 is a high-severity denial of service vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 May 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: strparser: fix skb_head leak in strp_abort_strp()
When the stream parser is aborted, for example after a message assembly timeout, it can still hold a reference to a partially assembled message in strp->skb_head.
That skb is not released in strp_abort_strp(), which leaks the partially assembled message and can be triggered repeatedly to exhaust memory.
Fix this by freeing strp->skb_head and resetting the parser state in the abort path. Leave strp_stop() unchanged so final cleanup still happens in strp_done() after the work and timer have been synchronized.
Weakness: CWE-401
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46102?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46102?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade, then put limits on request size, rate and nesting depth so one client cannot exhaust the service. More about Denial of service.
Is CVE-2026-46102 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46102 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-88593, BELL-CVE-2026-46102, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46102, GHSA-mr4j-h79v-vcp9, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-46102, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-46102 and 3 more.