Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
wifi: rtl8xxxu: Fix memory leaks with RTL8723BU, RTL8192EU
The wifi + bluetooth combo chip RTL8723BU can leak memory (especially?)
when it's connected to a bluetooth audio device. The busy bluetooth
traffic generates lots of C2H (card to host) messages, which are not
freed correctly.
To fix this, move the dev_kfree_skb() call in rtl8xxxu_c2hcmd_callback()
inside the loop where skb_dequeue() is called.
The RTL8192EU leaks memory because the C2H messages are added to the
queue and left there forever. (This was fine in the past because it
probably wasn't sending any C2H messages until commit e542e66b7c2e
("wifi: rtl8xxxu: gen2: Turn on the rate control"). Since that commit
it sends a C2H message when the TX rate changes.)
To fix this, delete the check for rf_paths > 1 and the goto. Let the
function process the C2H messages from RTL8192EU like the ones from
the other chips.
Theoretically the RTL8188FU could also leak like RTL8723BU, but it
most likely doesn't send C2H messages frequently enough.
This change was tested with RTL8723BU by Erhard F. I tested it with
RTL8188FU and RTL8192EU.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 5.5 | 5.10.173 |
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 | 6.1.20-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | linux | 6.1.20-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | linux | 6.1.20-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Nvidia-BlueField 22.04 LTS | linux-bluefield | 5.15.0-1019.21 | — |
| Ubuntu 24.04 LTS | linux-riscv +10 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux +1 | 5.15.0-75.82 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-aws | 5.15.0-1038.43 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure | 5.15.0-1040.47 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-azure-fde | 5.15.0-1041.48.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gcp | 5.15.0-1036.44 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gke | 5.15.0-1036.41 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-gkeop | 5.15.0-1022.27 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-ibm +1 | 5.15.0-1032.35 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg | 5.15.0-1033.38 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-kvm | 5.15.0-1035.40 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia | 5.15.0-1027.27 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra | 5.15.0-1015.15 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-oracle | 5.15.0-1037.43 | — |
| Ubuntu 22.04 LTS | linux-riscv +32 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-aws-5.15 | 5.15.0-1038.43~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-azure-5.15 | 5.15.0-1040.47~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gcp-5.15 | 5.15.0-1036.44~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-gke +28 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-hwe-5.15 +1 | 5.15.0-75.82~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-intel-iotg-5.15 | 5.15.0-1033.38~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 | 5.15.0-1015.15~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-oracle-5.15 | 5.15.0-1037.43~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | linux-riscv-5.15 | 5.15.0-1035.39~20.04.1 | — |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | linux-gcp +14 | No fix yet | — |
Show 11 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 16.04 LTS | linux-hwe-edge | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-intel-iot-realtime | 5.15.0-1033.35 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro Realtime 22.04 LTS | linux-realtime | 5.15.0-1040.45 | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 20.04 LTS | linux-fips +3 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro FIPS 18.04 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-preview 22.04 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-gcp +4 | No fix yet | — |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | linux-azure | No fix yet | — |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 9 | bpftool | 7.2.0-362.8.1.el9_3 | RHSA-2023:6583 |
| RHEL 9 | rv +64 | 5.14.0-362.8.1.el9_3 | RHSA-2023:6583 |
| RHEL 8 | perf +26 | 4.18.0-513.5.1.el8_9 | RHSA-2023:7077 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLES 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +6 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
Show 9 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP5 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP4 | kernel-docs +4 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150500.13.118.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0263-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.5 | kernel-source +1 | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.4 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0411-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE Micro 5.3 | kernel-rt +1 | 5.14.21-150400.15.142.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0411-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP5 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP5_Update_34 | 1-150500.11.3.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-default | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE Live Patching 15 SP4 | kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP4_Update_48 | 1-150400.9.7.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP5 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150500.55.133.1.150500.6.65.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-64kb +5 | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP4 | kernel-default-base | 5.14.21-150400.24.194.1.150400.24.98.3 | SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 |
Advisories 7
- WID-SEC-2025-2920 Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Nov 12, 2026
- RHSA-2023:7077 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- RHSA-2023:6583 Red Hat Security Advisory: kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Oct 17, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:0317-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Mar 23, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:0617-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 26, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:0411-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 10, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2026:0263-1 Security update for the Linux Kernel SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/430f9f9bec53a75f9ccc53e156a66f13fc098b83
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/35fb0e275af1aa1ca0a9784417e90f988aaf8e78
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/93c3f34ec02fc81188d328287d4fddd498ccddea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f39a86b4efd270947ee252cc32a30b0aef492d65
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b39f662ce1648db0b9de32e6a849b098480793cb