CVE-2026-72413 sctp: fix err_chunk memory leaks in INIT handling
A memory leak in the Linux kernel SCTP implementation allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service by triggering specific INIT handling errors.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-72413?
CVE-2026-72413 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 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:
sctp: fix err_chunk memory leaks in INIT handling
When sctp_verify_init() encounters unrecognized parameters, it allocates an err_chunk to report them. However, this chunk is leaked in several code paths:
1. In sctp_sf_do_5_1B_init(), if security_sctp_assoc_request() fails after sctp_verify_init() has populated err_chunk, the function returns immediately without freeing it.
2. In sctp_sf_do_unexpected_init(), the same leak occurs on the security_sctp_assoc_request() failure path.
3. In sctp_sf_do_unexpected_init(), on the success path after copying unrecognized parameters to the INIT-ACK, the function returns without freeing err_chunk, unlike sctp_sf_do_5_1B_init() which properly frees it.
Fix all three leaks by adding sctp_chunk_free(err_chunk) calls before returning in the error paths and on the success path in sctp_sf_do_unexpected_init().
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72413?
How do I fix CVE-2026-72413?
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-2026-72413 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72413 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-96123, BELL-CVE-2026-72413, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72413, GHSA-765x-xm9f-mfm8, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72413.