---
title: "CVE-2026-90403: Linux Kernel - Resource Cleanup Error"
description: "Linux kernel contains a resource cleanup error in rtl_pci_probe() of rtlwifi PCI driver, caused by incorrect goto label skipping cleanup functions, letting attackers potentially cause resource leaks or instability, exploit requires triggering device initialization."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-90403/
---

# CVE-2026-90403 Linux Kernel - Resource Cleanup Error

Linux kernel contains a resource cleanup error in rtl\_pci\_probe() of rtlwifi PCI driver, caused by incorrect goto label skipping cleanup functions, letting attackers potentially cause resource leaks or instability, exploit requires triggering device initialization.

CVSS base score 7.0 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

EPSS

0.14% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90403)

## Details

Type

Resource Cleanup Error

Impact

Denial Of Service

CVSS vector

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

Published

17 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version with the fix for rtl\_pci\_probe() error path.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90403](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90403)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aef178ffae5420afdbf46f7133ed28bd4248e15c](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aef178ffae5420afdbf46f7133ed28bd4248e15c)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b42fcfb097da46f0e86564736ced939e83cb8442](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b42fcfb097da46f0e86564736ced939e83cb8442)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfd6824dd1d151ab3abc00117b3774c8056006e0](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cfd6824dd1d151ab3abc00117b3774c8056006e0)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b68b6e529ce75112fab98e89583a76370ca394b](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b68b6e529ce75112fab98e89583a76370ca394b)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2634998247d24be34ba16a7666f31815ef1da00b](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2634998247d24be34ba16a7666f31815ef1da00b)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c2999d13eeb222ae56631aeb7ca248090f2b210](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3c2999d13eeb222ae56631aeb7ca248090f2b210)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/86e6187f8525c8f8219eb49e022eba854cc6ab86](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/86e6187f8525c8f8219eb49e022eba854cc6ab86)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a89818977338ba71194b1ab1d071f0c0848b1e13](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a89818977338ba71194b1ab1d071f0c0848b1e13)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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