CVE-2026-53181

vsock/vmci: fix sk_ack_backlog leak on failed handshake

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: June 25, 2026 at 08:38 AM UTC
Updated: October 15, 2026 at 02:20 AM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vsock/vmci: fix sk_ack_backlog leak on failed handshake When vmci_transport_recv_connecting_server() returns an error, vmci_transport_recv_listen() calls vsock_remove_pending() but never calls sk_acceptq_removed(). This leaves sk_ack_backlog incremented permanently. Repeated handshake failures (malformed packets, queue pair alloc failure, event subscribe failure) cause sk_ack_backlog to climb toward sk_max_ack_backlog. Once it reaches the limit the listener permanently refuses all new connections with -ECONNREFUSED, a silent denial of service requiring a process restart to recover. The two existing sk_acceptq_removed() calls in af_vsock.c do not cover this path: line 764 checks vsock_is_pending() which returns false after vsock_remove_pending(), and line 1889 is only reached on successful accept(). Fix by balancing sk_acceptq_added() with sk_acceptq_removed() on the error path.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

3.9 ≤ v < 5.10.2595.11 ≤ v < 5.15.2105.16 ≤ v < 6.1.1766.13 ≤ v < 6.18.366.19 ≤ v < 7.0.136.2 ≤ v < 6.6.1436.7 ≤ v < 6.12.947.17.1 rc17.1 rc27.1 rc37.1 rc47.1 rc57.1 rc6d021c344051af91f42c5ba9fdedc176740cbd238
Vendor states this is fixed in 22c587aa3ab1ab5264daff3ec32136fd30436c13 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 9698582a4dd9c4a05889d7db96d4c0edc9e69cac (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in ba9ad6015937a5e46ba1a31370e3efdec8abbdcc (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in bcb275626055df7f8f947f1a349754b4004d9a15 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in c05fa14db43ebef3bd862ca9d073981c0358b3f0 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in cf7090e255d74c4b61c51f8ede9fcacdd8393b5b (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in dfd853197615d322d3a88dbcab91fc0fd2096219 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in ea0b03d52881c12a8c634ea0d6cbfa61cefdb488 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 3.9 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.259 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.210 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.176 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.94 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.36 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.143 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.0.13 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1 (unaffected)

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-401

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