CVE-2026-46109 usb: ulpi: fix memory leak on ulpi_register() error paths
A memory leak in the Linux kernel USB ULPI driver allows attackers to cause denial of service by triggering error paths that fail to free allocated memory.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-46109?
CVE-2026-46109 is a medium-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 May 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:
usb: ulpi: fix memory leak on ulpi_register() error paths
Commit 01af542392b5 ("usb: ulpi: fix double free in ulpi_register_interface() error path") removed kfree(ulpi) from ulpi_register_interface() to fix a double-free when device_register() fails.
But when ulpi_of_register() or ulpi_read_id() fail before device_register() is called, the ulpi allocation is leaked.
Add kfree(ulpi) on both error paths to properly clean up the allocation.
Weakness: CWE-401
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46109?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46109?
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-2026-46109 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46109 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-89022, BELL-CVE-2026-46109, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46109, GHSA-q7hg-qx63-q53r, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-46109, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-46109 and 1 more.