5.5
MEDIUM CVSS 3.1
CVE-2026-53261
devlink: Release nested relation on devlink free
Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: devlink: Release nested relation on devlink free devlink relation state is normally released from devl_unregister(), which calls devlink_rel_put(). This misses devlink instances that get a nested relation before registration and then fail probe before devl_register() is reached. That flow can happen for SFs. The child devlink gets linked to its parent before registration, then a later probe error calls devlink_free() directly. Since the instance was never registered, devl_unregister() is not called and devlink->rel is leaked. Release any pending relation from devlink_free() as well. The registered path is unchanged because devl_unregister() already clears devlink->rel before devlink_free() runs.

INFO

Published Date :

June 25, 2026, 9:16 a.m.

Last Modified :

July 8, 2026, 3:17 p.m.

Remotely Exploit :

No

Source :

416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-53261 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Linux linux_kernel
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 3.1 MEDIUM [email protected]
Solution
The Linux kernel's devlink relation leak is resolved by releasing relations in devlink_free.
  • Update the Linux kernel to include the fix.
  • Verify devlink relation handling on probe errors.
  • Ensure devlink_free releases pending relations.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-53261 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-53261 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-53261 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-53261 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Jul. 08, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
    Added CWE CWE-401
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.13 up to (excluding) 6.18.36 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.7 up to (excluding) 6.12.94 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 6.19 up to (excluding) 7.0.13 *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/11324d52b0c63f4f202b35793c6507a575e9a689 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3522b21fd7e1863d0734537737bd59f1b90d0190 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/927f96861f939c0b517d13ed27bf4fabbfc1cfb3 Types: Patch
    Added Reference Type kernel.org: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9137286884703113b1c9e6403bd6d7d97b14754 Types: Patch
  • New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Jun. 25, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c137743bce02b18c1537d4681aa515f7b80bf0a8', 'lessThan': 'a9137286884703113b1c9e6403bd6d7d97b14754', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c137743bce02b18c1537d4681aa515f7b80bf0a8', 'lessThan': '927f96861f939c0b517d13ed27bf4fabbfc1cfb3', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c137743bce02b18c1537d4681aa515f7b80bf0a8', 'lessThan': '11324d52b0c63f4f202b35793c6507a575e9a689', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'c137743bce02b18c1537d4681aa515f7b80bf0a8', 'lessThan': '3522b21fd7e1863d0734537737bd59f1b90d0190', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['net/devlink/core.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.7'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.7', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.94', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.36', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.0.13', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.0.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['net/devlink/core.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
    Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: devlink: Release nested relation on devlink free devlink relation state is normally released from devl_unregister(), which calls devlink_rel_put(). This misses devlink instances that get a nested relation before registration and then fail probe before devl_register() is reached. That flow can happen for SFs. The child devlink gets linked to its parent before registration, then a later probe error calls devlink_free() directly. Since the instance was never registered, devl_unregister() is not called and devlink->rel is leaked. Release any pending relation from devlink_free() as well. The registered path is unchanged because devl_unregister() already clears devlink->rel before devlink_free() runs.
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/11324d52b0c63f4f202b35793c6507a575e9a689
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3522b21fd7e1863d0734537737bd59f1b90d0190
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/927f96861f939c0b517d13ed27bf4fabbfc1cfb3
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a9137286884703113b1c9e6403bd6d7d97b14754
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.