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Missing release of passed file descriptors in illumos nscd allows local users to exhaust kernel memory

Type: advisorySource: Official CVE List1 source record

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.

Announced Group revision 1
Original source ↗

CVE-2026-104112

Primary source · Revision 1

Imported from structured advisory data. Source references identify upstream records or fields; verify affected versions and your deployed configuration.

Security context

Source reference: cve:CVE-2026-104112

illumos-gate

Source reference: /containers/cna/affected/0/product

Affected versions
Not stated in this record
Fixed versions
Not stated in this record
Prerequisites
Not stated in this record

OmniOS

Source reference: /containers/cna/affected/1/product

Affected versions
Not stated in this record
Fixed versions
Not stated in this record
Prerequisites
Not stated in this record

Structured affected-version data

Original package identities and version rules from this source.

[
  {
    "repo": "https://github.com/illumos/illumos-gate",
    "vendor": "illumos",
    "product": "illumos-gate",
    "versions": [
      {
        "status": "affected",
        "changes": [
          {
            "at": "af810a72c09944e884ec695e8dbf1702a4f424ae",
            "status": "unaffected"
          }
        ],
        "version": "cb5caa98562cf06753163f558cbcfe30b8f4673a",
        "lessThan": "af810a72c09944e884ec695e8dbf1702a4f424ae",
        "versionType": "git"
      }
    ],
    "platforms": [
      "x86"
    ],
    "packageName": "SUNWcs",
    "programFiles": [
      "usr/src/cmd/nscd/nscd_frontend.c"
    ],
    "collectionURL": "https://illumos.org",
    "defaultStatus": "unaffected"
  },
  {
    "vendor": "OmniOS",
    "product": "OmniOS",
    "versions": [
      {
        "status": "affected",
        "version": "any",
        "lessThan": "r151054",
        "versionType": "custom"
      },
      {
        "status": "affected",
        "changes": [
          {
            "at": "r151058w",
            "status": "unaffected"
          }
        ],
        "version": "r151058",
        "lessThan": "r151058w",
        "versionType": "custom"
      },
      {
        "status": "affected",
        "changes": [
          {
            "at": "r151056aw",
            "status": "unaffected"
          }
        ],
        "version": "r151056",
        "lessThan": "r151056aw",
        "versionType": "custom"
      },
      {
        "status": "affected",
        "changes": [
          {
            "at": "r151054bw",
            "status": "unaffected"
          }
        ],
        "version": "r151054",
        "lessThan": "r151054bw",
        "versionType": "custom"
      }
    ],
    "defaultStatus": "affected"
  }
]
Related CVEs
CVE-2026-104112

Source reference: /cveMetadata/cveId

Publisher severity

medium

Source reference: /containers/cna/metrics

Event
#16363 · Revision 1
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Publisher date
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