Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2026-63910 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions b569f86e2f8dbf6f11d31d3de794d22e18098b23, ead6680f354f83966c796fc7f9463a3171789616 as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.17% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to b569f86e2f8dbf6f11d31d3de794d22e18098b23 or ead6680f354f83966c796fc7f9463a3171789616, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 7.0.12 or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 281a226314238e8adb08d11b765347687ffb38b9 up to, but not including, b569f86e2f8dbf6f11d31d3de794d22e18098b23; 281a226314238e8adb08d11b765347687ffb38b9 up to, but not including, ead6680f354f83966c796fc7f9463a3171789616; 7.0 | b569f86e2f8dbf6f11d31d3de794d22e18098b23, ead6680f354f83966c796fc7f9463a3171789616 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 7.0 up to, but not including, 7.0.12; 7.1 | 7.0.12 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dma-buf: fix UAF in dma_buf_fd() tracepoint Once FD_ADD() returns, the fd is live in the file descriptor table and a thread sharing that table can close() it before DMA_BUF_TRACE() runs. The close drops the last reference, __fput() frees the dma_buf, and the tracepoint then dereferences dmabuf to take dmabuf->name_lock -- slab-use-after-free. Split FD_ADD() back into get_unused_fd_flags() + fd_install() and emit the tracepoint between them. While the fdtable slot is reserved with a NULL file pointer, a racing close() returns -EBADF without entering __fput(), so the dma_buf stays alive across the trace. Same approach as commit 2d76319c4cbb ("dma-buf: fix UAF in dma_buf_put() tracepoint"). This undoes the FD_ADD() conversion done in commit 34dfce523c90 ("dma: convert dma_buf_fd() to FD_ADD()"); FD_ADD() has no place to hook the tracepoint safely.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Use After Free
The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory belongs to the code that operates on the new pointer.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Choose a language that provides automatic memory management.
- When freeing pointers, be sure to set them to NULL once they are freed. However, the utilization of multiple or complex data structures may lower the usefulness of this strategy.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 8.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
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