---
id: CVE-2026-81018
title: >-
  kernel: platform/x86: think-lmi: Free system certificate signatures
  (CVE-2026-81018)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's `think-lmi` driver. When the driver is
  removed, the system authentication object fails to free stored certificate
  signatures, leading to a memory leak. This can result in system instability or
  denial …
severity: medium
cvss: 5.5
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-772
vendor: Red Hat
product: Linux
affected:
  - >-
    Linux >= 5dcb5ef125907d09806509a9db8c6705041e0026 <
    9c28adde051fe76a7754856d0a414ab89adcaa4d
  - >-
    Linux >= 5dcb5ef125907d09806509a9db8c6705041e0026 <
    abbcc0354108cf47a6055b951182bf73520d0363
  - >-
    Linux >= 5dcb5ef125907d09806509a9db8c6705041e0026 <
    abca989604f60fe29d7170431f819e28ec7d868a
  - Linux 6.13
published: '2026-09-11'
updated: '2026-09-14'
sourceUpdated: '2026-09-14T21:28:15+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-81018.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-81018.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-81018'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2532431'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-81018'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81018'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-81018.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c28adde051fe76a7754856d0a414ab89adcaa4d'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/abbcc0354108cf47a6055b951182bf73520d0363'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/abca989604f60fe29d7170431f819e28ec7d868a'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00159
epssPercentile: 0.04303
ingestedAt: '2026-09-14T00:35:28.531Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's `think-lmi` driver. When the driver is removed, the system authentication object fails to free stored certificate signatures, leading to a memory leak. This can result in system instability or denial of service over time due to resource exhaustion.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · updated 2026-09-14 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-81018.json)

**kernel: platform/x86: think-lmi: Free system certificate signatures** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-09-11, updated 2026-09-14.

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Refer to the advisory for fix availability.