CVE-2026-97473 powercap: intel_rapl: Fix memory leak in rapl_add_package_cpuslocked()
A memory leak in the Linux kernel's Intel RAPL driver allows local attackers to exhaust system memory, causing denial of service.
- 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-2026-97473?
CVE-2026-97473 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Linux, published on 24 Sep 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:
powercap: intel_rapl: Fix memory leak in rapl_add_package_cpuslocked()
When topology_physical_package_id()/topology_logical_die_id() returns a negative value, rapl_add_package_cpuslocked() returns ERR_PTR(-EINVAL) directly without freeing the rapl_package structure that was just allocated by kzalloc_obj(), leaking memory on every failed package addition.
Use the existing err_free_package label so that the allocation is released on the error path.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97473?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97473?
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-2026-97473 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97473 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-103790, BELL-CVE-2026-97473, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97473, GHSA-368f-c575-88hq, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97473.