What is CVE-2026-53251?

CVE-2026-53251 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, classified as a Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime flaw (CWE-772), affecting Linux kernel versions from 6.12.2 onward and patched in 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and others. CVE-2026-53251 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53251?

CVE-2026-53251 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-53251?

Yes, CVE-2026-53251 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.12.2 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-53251 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-53251 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

CVE-2026-53251

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: ISO: Fix not releasing hdev reference on iso_conn_big_sync hci_get_route() returns a reference-counted hci_dev pointer via hci_dev_hold(). The function exits normally or with an error without ever releasing it.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-06-25

Last modified 2026-07-08

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-772

CVE-2026-53251 is a Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime vulnerability

What is Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime?

The product does not release a resource after its effective lifetime has ended. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.12.2, 6.11.11, 6.13 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13, 7.1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.12.2 ≥ 6.11.11 ≥ 6.13

Fixed in

✓ 6.12.94 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.36 6.18.x ✓ 7.0.13 7.0.x ✓ 7.1

References

4 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/23e8eb16820b866528fb300dc67fe3f67f00ef62

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/33d677d2e3713d98012c3dbd4a9207f7d785b854

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4bbec25f47b930101294fd310c627c3f53e9661f

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5cbf290b79351971f20c7a533247e8d58a3f970c

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-53251

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-06-25

Modified 2026-07-08

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-53251?

CVE-2026-53251 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime flaw (CWE-772) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.12.2 onward and has been patched in 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and others. CVE-2026-53251 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53251?

CVE-2026-53251 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-53251?

Yes. CVE-2026-53251 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.12.2 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-53251 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-53251 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.