Missing release of passed file descriptors in illumos nscd allows local users to exhaust kernel memory
Summary
| CVE | CVE-2026-104112 |
|---|---|
| State | PUBLISHED |
| Assigner | illumos |
| Source Priority | CVE Program / NVD first with legacy fallback |
| Published | 2026-10-09 15:17:07 UTC |
| Updated | 2026-10-09 16:35:35 UTC |
| Description | A missing release of resources in the illumos name service cache daemon (nscd) allows a local user to exhaust kernel memory. The nscd door server procedure, switcher() in usr/src/cmd/nscd/nscd_frontend.c, does not close file descriptors that are passed with a door call but not used by the request, and the main nscd door at /var/run/name_service_door accepts passed descriptors from any user in its zone. Because nscd also runs with an unlimited file descriptor limit, an unprivileged local user, including one in a non-global zone, can repeatedly pass a descriptor to its zone's nscd in a door_call() loop, causing the file descriptor table of nscd to grow without bound in kernel memory. This causes a denial of service of nscd and can render processes in all zones on the host unresponsive. The flaw has existed since 2006 (illumos-gate commit cb5caa98), and affects any illumos distribution prior to illumos-gate commit af810a72. |
Risk And Classification
Primary CVSS: v4.0 6.8 MEDIUM from 0ca53633-f0b5-4853-ba72-e0a2e62000d0
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:H/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Problem Types: CWE-772 | CWE-772 CWE-772 Missing Release of Resource after Effective Lifetime
| Version | Source | Type | Score | Severity | Vector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.0 | 0ca53633-f0b5-4853-ba72-e0a2e62000d0 | Secondary | 6.8 | MEDIUM | CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:H/E:P/C... |
| 4.0 | CNA | CVSS | 6.8 | MEDIUM | CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:H/E:P |
CVSS v4.0 Breakdown
CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:H/E:P/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X
Vendor Declared Affected Products
| Source | Vendor | Product | Version | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNA | Illumos | Illumos-gate | affected cb5caa98562cf06753163f558cbcfe30b8f4673a af810a72c09944e884ec695e8dbf1702a4f424ae git | x86 |
| CNA | OmniOS | OmniOS | affected any r151054 custom | Not specified |
| CNA | OmniOS | OmniOS | affected r151058 r151058w custom | Not specified |
| CNA | OmniOS | OmniOS | affected r151056 r151056aw custom | Not specified |
| CNA | OmniOS | OmniOS | affected r151054 r151054bw custom | Not specified |
References
| Reference | Source | Link | Tags |
|---|---|---|---|
| illumos.org/issues/18494 | 0ca53633-f0b5-4853-ba72-e0a2e62000d0 | illumos.org | |
| illumos.topicbox.com/groups/developer/T3b859664594b7762/cve-2026-104112-to-cve-202... | 0ca53633-f0b5-4853-ba72-e0a2e62000d0 | illumos.topicbox.com | |
| github.com/illumos/illumos-gate/commit/af810a72c09944e884ec695e8dbf1702a... | 0ca53633-f0b5-4853-ba72-e0a2e62000d0 | github.com | |
| CVE Program record | CVE.ORG | www.cve.org | canonical |
| NVD vulnerability detail | NVD | nvd.nist.gov | canonical, analysis |
Vendor Comments And Credit
Discovery Credit
CNA: Robert French (en)
CNA: James Wynne III (en)
CNA: Dan McDonald (en)
Additional Advisory Data
Solutions
CNA: Update your illumos distribution to one that includes the fix for this issue.
Workarounds
CNA: One can mitigate by disabling the name-service-cache SMF service in every affected zone, but once upgraded that service should be re-enabled.