Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

fbdev: radeon: fix potential memory leak in radeonfb_pci_register()

The function radeonfb_pci_register() allocates memory for modelist
(by calling radeon_check_modes() which calls fb_add_videomode()).
The memory is appended to info->modelist, but is not freed in subsequent
error paths. Fix this by calling fb_destroy_modelist().
Published: 2026-08-15
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

A flaw in the Radeon framebuffer initialization routine causes dynamically allocated video mode list entries to remain in memory when the driver encounters an error while registering the device. Because the allocated memory is never released in these error paths, repeated failures can gradually consume kernel memory, potentially exhausting resources and degrading system performance or triggering a crash. The flaw does not provide direct remote access or privilege escalation; its impact is confined to local users who can load or interact with the driver.

Affected Systems

The issue exists in all versions of the Linux kernel that include the Radeon framebuffer driver prior to the recent patch. Systems running any Linux distribution that ship an unpatched kernel with Radeon GPU support are affected. No specific version ranges are listed in the advisory, so all kernels before the fix are potentially vulnerable.

Risk and Exploitability

The CVSS score is not provided, and there is no EPSS score available, making the precise exploitation likelihood uncertain. The patch was incorporated as an in‑kernel change, so exploitation requires driver load during system boot or module insertion and thus is limited to local users with sufficient privileges to load kernel modules. The vulnerability is not listed in CISA’s KEV catalog, and no known public exploit or exploit evidence is reported. Based on the description, it is inferred that the attack vector is local, kernel‑level privilege. The primary risk is resource exhaustion leading to a denial‑of‑service if the situation repeats frequently or if heavy memory usage is present. Because the flaw does not involve user‑controlled input or external interfaces, the threat surface is small and unlikely to be leveraged for other attacks.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 15, 2026 at 09:58 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Upgrade the Linux kernel to a version that contains the radeonfb_pci_register memory‑release patch
  • If a kernel upgrade cannot be performed immediately, unload the Radeon framebuffer module with modprobe -r radeon to prevent the fault from occurring
  • Continuously monitor kernel memory usage and the system logs for signs of incomplete de‑allocation or repeated module failures to ensure the mitigation is effective

Generated by OpenCVE AI on August 15, 2026 at 09:58 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories

No advisories yet.

History

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-401

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: radeon: fix potential memory leak in radeonfb_pci_register() The function radeonfb_pci_register() allocates memory for modelist (by calling radeon_check_modes() which calls fb_add_videomode()). The memory is appended to info->modelist, but is not freed in subsequent error paths. Fix this by calling fb_destroy_modelist().
Title fbdev: radeon: fix potential memory leak in radeonfb_pci_register()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-15T05:54:55.825Z

Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.916Z

Link: CVE-2026-72272

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T06:21:56.550

Modified: 2026-08-15T06:21:56.550

Link: CVE-2026-72272

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-15T10:00:06Z

Weaknesses
  • CWE-401

    Missing Release of Memory after Effective Lifetime