Bluetooth ISO Reference Leak in Linux Kernel

Publication date: 2026-06-25

Last updated on: 2026-07-08

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

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.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published

2026-06-25

Last Modified

2026-07-08

Generated

2026-07-15

AI Q&A

2026-06-25

EPSS Evaluated

2026-07-14

NVD

CVE-2026-53251

EUVD

EUVD-2026-39202

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
linux	linux_kernel	From 6.11.11 (inc) to 6.12 (exc)
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	From 6.13 (inc) to 6.18.36 (exc)
linux	linux_kernel	From 6.19 (inc) to 7.0.13 (exc)
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	7.1
linux	linux_kernel	From 6.12.2 (inc) to 6.12.94 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-772	The product does not release a resource after its effective lifetime has ended, i.e., after the resource is no longer needed.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth ISO implementation. Specifically, the function hci_get_route() returns a reference-counted pointer to an hci_dev structure via hci_dev_hold(), but the function exits without releasing this reference. This means that the reference to the device is not properly released, which can lead to resource management issues.

Impact Analysis

Because the function does not release the reference it holds, this can cause resource leaks in the Bluetooth subsystem of the Linux kernel. Over time, such leaks may lead to increased memory usage or exhaustion of device references, potentially degrading system performance or causing instability.

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