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CVE Record

CVE-2026-23256: net: liquidio: Fix off-by-one error in VF setup_nic_devices() cleanup

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: liquidio: Fix off-by-one error in VF setup_nic_devices() cleanup In setup_nic_devices(), the initialization loop jumps to the label setup_nic_dev_free on failure. The current cleanup loop while(i--) skip the failing index i, causing a memory leak. Fix this by changing the loop to iterate from the current index i down to 0. Compile tested only. Issue found using code review.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysisunknown

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-23256 is a Linux kernel issue in the liquidio network driver. A cleanup error can leak memory when virtual-function NIC setup fails. The source does not provide CVSS scoring, confirmed exploitation, or evidence of remote compromise. Business urgency depends on whether affected Linux kernels use this driver path.

Executive priority

Treat as a targeted kernel maintenance item, not an emergency, unless critical systems use liquidio virtual-function networking. Schedule validation and patching through normal Linux update processes once vendor guidance confirms exposure.

Technical view

The flaw is an off-by-one cleanup bug in setup_nic_devices(). On initialization failure, the cleanup loop skipped the failing index, leaving allocated memory unreleased. Kernel stable commits adjust cleanup iteration to include the current index. The issue was found by code review and was compile-tested only.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions with the liquidio network driver and virtual-function setup path reachable. The source bundle does not identify specific distributions, appliances, or cloud images as affected.

Exploitation context

No active exploitation is stated. The CVE is not marked KEV in the provided bundle. Available evidence describes a memory leak during an error-handling path, discovered by code review, with no public exploit status provided.

Researcher notes

The record lacks CVSS, CWE, distro mapping, and exploitability analysis. The key evidence is the kernel commit description: failed setup cleanup skipped index i, causing a memory leak. Avoid broader impact claims without vendor or kernel maintainer confirmation.

Mitigation direction

  • Check vendor kernel advisories for updates containing the referenced stable fixes.
  • Prioritize systems using liquidio NIC hardware or virtual functions.
  • Apply supported kernel updates when your vendor confirms applicability.
  • If liquidio is unused, confirm it is absent or disabled per platform policy.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Linux kernel versions against the affected versions in the CVE record.
  • Check whether the liquidio driver is present, loaded, or packaged.
  • Confirm vendor kernels include one of the referenced stable fixes.
  • Monitor kernel logs for repeated liquidio VF setup failures.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
9

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2026-23256 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
8Source links

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727, 846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727, 846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727, 846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727, 846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727, 846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727, 846b46873eeb3baf40f7e6d8fe8f98aec95e7727unaffected
LinuxLinux4.10, 0, 5.10.250, 5.15.200, 6.1.163, 6.6.124, 6.12.70, 6.18.10, 6.19affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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