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CVE Record

CVE-2026-46141: powerpc/xive: fix kmemleak caused by incorrect chip_data lookup

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: powerpc/xive: fix kmemleak caused by incorrect chip_data lookup The kmemleak reports the following memory leak: Unreferenced object 0xc0000002a7fbc640 (size 64): comm "kworker/8:1", pid 540, jiffies 4294937872 hex dump (first 32 bytes): 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 09 04 00 04 00 00 ................ 00 00 a7 81 00 00 0a c0 00 00 08 04 00 04 00 00 ................ backtrace (crc 177d48f6): __kmalloc_cache_noprof+0x520/0x730 xive_irq_alloc_data.constprop.0+0x40/0xe0 xive_irq_domain_alloc+0xd0/0x1b0 irq_domain_alloc_irqs_parent+0x44/0x6c pseries_irq_domain_alloc+0x1cc/0x354 irq_domain_alloc_irqs_parent+0x44/0x6c msi_domain_alloc+0xb0/0x220 irq_domain_alloc_irqs_locked+0x138/0x4d0 __irq_domain_alloc_irqs+0x8c/0xfc __msi_domain_alloc_irqs+0x214/0x4d8 msi_domain_alloc_irqs_all_locked+0x70/0xf8 pci_msi_setup_msi_irqs+0x60/0x78 __pci_enable_msix_range+0x54c/0x98c pci_alloc_irq_vectors_affinity+0x16c/0x1d4 nvme_pci_enable+0xac/0x9c0 [nvme] nvme_probe+0x340/0x764 [nvme] This occurs when allocating MSI-X vectors for an NVMe device. During allocation the XIVE code creates a struct xive_irq_data and stores it in irq_data->chip_data. When the MSI-X irqdomain is later freed, xive_irq_free_data() is responsible for retrieving this structure and freeing it. However, after commit cc0cc23babc9 ("powerpc/xive: Untangle xive from child interrupt controller drivers"), xive_irq_free_data() retrieves the chip_data using irq_get_chip_data(), which looks up the data through the child domain. This is incorrect because the XIVE-specific irq data is associated with the XIVE (parent) domain. As a result the lookup fails and the allocated struct xive_irq_data is never freed, leading to the kmemleak report shown above. Fix this by retrieving the irq_data from the correct domain using irq_domain_get_irq_data() and then accessing the chip_data via irq_data_get_irq_chip_data().

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysislow

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-46141 is a Linux kernel memory leak in PowerPC XIVE interrupt handling. When MSI-X interrupts are allocated and later freed, the kernel may fail to free a small XIVE data structure. The source ties this to NVMe MSI-X allocation, not remote compromise or data theft.

Executive priority

Treat this as a targeted reliability issue, not an internet-scale emergency. Patch through normal kernel maintenance, with faster action for PowerPC production hosts where memory pressure or NVMe churn could affect availability.

Technical view

The bug is in powerpc/xive cleanup after commit cc0cc23babc9. xive_irq_free_data() queried chip_data through the child interrupt domain, while the XIVE data belongs to the parent domain. The fix retrieves irq_data from the correct domain and then frees the associated xive_irq_data.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Linux systems using PowerPC XIVE interrupt handling, especially environments with MSI-X devices such as NVMe. The source lists affected Linux versions and stable commits but does not provide distro-specific package names or CPEs.

Exploitation context

The CVE record does not report active exploitation, and KEV is false. The available evidence describes a memory leak observed by kmemleak during NVMe MSI-X vector allocation, not a public exploit path or privilege escalation technique.

Researcher notes

The public source is specific: incorrect chip_data lookup during XIVE IRQ free causes leaked xive_irq_data. No CVSS, CWE, exploit status, or distro mapping is provided, so impact beyond resource leakage should not be assumed.

Mitigation direction

  • Update to a Linux kernel containing one of the referenced stable fixes.
  • Check distribution vendor advisories for backported fixes and supported package versions.
  • Prioritize PowerPC systems using XIVE and MSI-X capable devices such as NVMe.
  • If patching is delayed, monitor memory pressure and kernel leak reports on exposed systems.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory PowerPC Linux systems and identify kernels in the affected version range.
  • Confirm the running kernel includes the referenced stable fix or vendor backport.
  • Review kernel diagnostics for kmemleak entries mentioning xive_irq_alloc_data or XIVE IRQ data.
  • After update, regression test NVMe and other MSI-X devices on representative PowerPC hosts.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
5

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

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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
4Source 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

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Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinuxcc0cc23babc979e399f34f53e4bccf702a389558, cc0cc23babc979e399f34f53e4bccf702a389558, cc0cc23babc979e399f34f53e4bccf702a389558unaffected
LinuxLinux6.18, 0, 6.18.30, 7.0.7, 7.1affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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