Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
x86/kexec: fix memory leak of elf header buffer
This is reported by kmemleak detector:
unreferenced object 0xffffc900002a9000 (size 4096):
comm "kexec", pid 14950, jiffies 4295110793 (age 373.951s)
hex dump (first 32 bytes):
7f 45 4c 46 02 01 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 .ELF............
04 00 3e 00 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 ..>.............
backtrace:
[<0000000016a8ef9f>] __vmalloc_node_range+0x101/0x170
[<000000002b66b6c0>] __vmalloc_node+0xb4/0x160
[<00000000ad40107d>] crash_prepare_elf64_headers+0x8e/0xcd0
[<0000000019afff23>] crash_load_segments+0x260/0x470
[<0000000019ebe95c>] bzImage64_load+0x814/0xad0
[<0000000093e16b05>] arch_kexec_kernel_image_load+0x1be/0x2a0
[<000000009ef2fc88>] kimage_file_alloc_init+0x2ec/0x5a0
[<0000000038f5a97a>] __do_sys_kexec_file_load+0x28d/0x530
[<0000000087c19992>] do_syscall_64+0x3b/0x90
[<0000000066e063a4>] entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x44/0xae
In crash_prepare_elf64_headers(), a buffer is allocated via vmalloc() to
store elf headers. While it's not freed back to system correctly when
kdump kernel is reloaded or unloaded. Then memory leak is caused. Fix it
by introducing x86 specific function arch_kimage_file_post_load_cleanup(),
and freeing the buffer there.
And also remove the incorrect elf header buffer freeing code. Before
calling arch specific kexec_file loading function, the image instance has
been initialized. So 'image->elf_headers' must be NULL. It doesn't make
sense to free the elf header buffer in the place.
Three different people have reported three bugs about the memory leak on
x86_64 inside Redhat.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.17 | 5.10.236 |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | linux | 5.18.5-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 5.18.5-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 5.18.5-1 | — |
| Debian 11 | linux | 5.10.237-1 | DLA-4178-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-raspi-realtime | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux | 5.15.0-47.51 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1019.23 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1019.24 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1017.23 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1015.18 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1002.4 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm | 5.15.0-1013.15 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1015.20 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1017.21 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-lowlatency | 5.15.0-47.53 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1007.7 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1017.22 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-raspi | 5.15.0-1014.16 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1019.23~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1019.24~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1017.23~20.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 +1 | 5.15.0-48.54~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1015.20~20.04.2 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1017.22~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1018.21~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
Show 11 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1020.20 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 18.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS-updates 16.04 LTS | linux-fips | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 20.04 LTS | linux +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 18.04 LTS | linux +12 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | linux +7 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-aws +2 | No fix yet | — |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | kernel-64kb +7 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES 12 SP5 | kernel-syms +2 | 4.12.14-122.255.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0316-1, SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 |
Show 18 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP3 | kernel-docs +5 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.91.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-source +1 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.115.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.2 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.3.18-150300.205.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.1 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.3.18-150300.205.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_25 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_38 | 1-150400.9.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 | kernel-default | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP3 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP3_Update_56 | 1-150300.7.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kernel-default | 4.12.14-122.255.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0316-1, SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_67 | 1-8.5.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 12 SP5 | kgraft-patch-SLE12-SP5_Update_76 | 1-8.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0316-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.100.1.150500.6.47.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP3 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | kernel-syms +3 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1.150400.24.78.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | kernel-syms +2 | 5.14.21-150400.24.158.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | kernel-default-base | 5.3.18-150300.59.201.1.150300.18.120.1 | SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 |
Advisories 9
- SUSE-SU-2026:0316-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- DLA-4178-1 linux - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1194-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1176-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1241-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1027-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1183-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1293-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2025:1263-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Apr 16, 2025
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/23cf39dccf7653650701a6f39b119e9116a27f1a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8765a423a87d74ef24ea02b43b2728fe4039f248
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/115ee42a4c2f26ba2b4ace2668a3f004621f6833
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f675e3a9189d84a9324ab45b0cb19906c2bc8fcb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3e34a47f98974d0844444c5121aaff123004e57