CVE-2026-53181: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vsock/vmci: fix sk_ack_backlog leak on failed handshake When vmci_transport_recv...

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.

Metrics

EPSS Probability

0.18%

8.2th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

References

Timeline

Published: Jun 25, 2026
Last Modified: Jun 25, 2026
Status: Received

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53181?

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.

How severe is CVE-2026-53181?

Severity scoring for CVE-2026-53181 is pending analysis. The EPSS model estimates a 0.18% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2026-53181?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.