Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2026-64453 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 c40090f8d19b415e2925b22be964b5d1f695666f, 1947b6411460d68b54b13c536961933166937d05, 0bfeec21984fedd32987f4e4c0cde34b445af404 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 c40090f8d19b415e2925b22be964b5d1f695666f or 1947b6411460d68b54b13c536961933166937d05 or 0bfeec21984fedd32987f4e4c0cde34b445af404, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.18.39 or 7.1.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 121a0f839dbb397af5fabb701cea3e9983223e50 up to, but not including, c40090f8d19b415e2925b22be964b5d1f695666f; 121a0f839dbb397af5fabb701cea3e9983223e50 up to, but not including, 1947b6411460d68b54b13c536961933166937d05; 121a0f839dbb397af5fabb701cea3e9983223e50 up to, but not including, 0bfeec21984fedd32987f4e4c0cde34b445af404; 6.18 | c40090f8d19b415e2925b22be964b5d1f695666f, 1947b6411460d68b54b13c536961933166937d05, 0bfeec21984fedd32987f4e4c0cde34b445af404 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.18 up to, but not including, 6.18.39; 6.19 up to, but not including, 7.1.4; 7.2 | 6.18.39, 7.1.4 |
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 NVD.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: usb: misc: usbio: fix disconnect UAF in client teardown usbio_disconnect() walks usbio->cli_list in reverse and uninitializes each auxiliary device. auxiliary_device_uninit() drops the device reference, and for an unbound child that can run usbio_auxdev_release() and free the containing struct usbio_client. list_for_each_entry_reverse() advances after the loop body by reading client->link.prev. If the current client is freed by auxiliary_device_uninit(), the iterator dereferences freed memory. Use list_for_each_entry_safe_reverse() so the previous client is cached before the body can drop the final reference. This preserves reverse teardown order while keeping the next iterator cursor independent of the current client's lifetime. Validation reproduced this kernel report: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in usbio_disconnect+0x12e/0x150 Call Trace: <TASK> dump_stack_lvl+0x66/0xa0 print_report+0xce/0x630 ? usbio_disconnect+0x12e/0x150 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? __virt_addr_valid+0x188/0x320 ? usbio_disconnect+0x12e/0x150 kasan_report+0xe0/0x110 ? usbio_disconnect+0x12e/0x150 usbio_disconnect+0x12e/0x150 usb_unbind_interface+0xf3/0x400 really_probe+0x316/0x660 __driver_probe_device+0x106/0x240 driver_probe_device+0x4a/0x110 __device_attach_driver+0xf1/0x1a0 ? __pfx___device_attach_driver+0x10/0x10 bus_for_each_drv+0xf9/0x160 ? __pfx_bus_for_each_drv+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? trace_hardirqs_on+0x18/0x130 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore+0x44/0x60 __device_attach+0x133/0x2a0 ? __pfx___device_attach+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? do_raw_spin_unlock+0x9a/0x100 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 device_initial_probe+0x55/0x70 bus_probe_device+0x4a/0xd0 device_add+0x9b9/0xc10 ? __pfx_device_add+0x10/0x10 ? _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore+0x44/0x60 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? lockdep_hardirqs_on_prepare+0xea/0x1a0 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? usb_enable_lpm+0x3c/0x260 usb_set_configuration+0xb64/0xf20 usb_generic_driver_probe+0x5f/0x90 usb_probe_device+0x71/0x1b0 really_probe+0x46b/0x660 __driver_probe_device+0x106/0x240 driver_probe_device+0x4a/0x110 __device_attach_driver+0xf1/0x1a0 ? __pfx___device_attach_driver+0x10/0x10 bus_for_each_drv+0xf9/0x160 ? __pfx_bus_for_each_drv+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? trace_hardirqs_on+0x18/0x130 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? _raw_spin_unlock_irqrestore+0x44/0x60 __device_attach+0x133/0x2a0 ? __pfx___device_attach+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? do_raw_spin_unlock+0x9a/0x100 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 device_initial_probe+0x55/0x70 bus_probe_device+0x4a/0xd0 device_add+0x9b9/0xc10 ? __pfx_device_add+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? add_device_randomness+0xb7/0xf0 usb_new_device+0x492/0x870 hub_event+0x1b10/0x29c0 ? __pfx_hub_event+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? lock_acquire+0x187/0x300 ? process_one_work+0x475/0xb90 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? lock_release+0xc8/0x290 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 process_one_work+0x4d7/0xb90 ? __pfx_process_one_work+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? __list_add_valid_or_report+0x37/0xf0 ? __pfx_hub_event+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 worker_thread+0x2d8/0x570 ? __pfx_worker_thread+0x10/0x10 kthread+0x1ad/0x1f0 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork+0x3c9/0x540 ? __pfx_ret_from_fork+0x10/0x10 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? __switch_to+0x2e9/0x730 ? __pfx_kthread+0x10/0x10 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK>
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
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
Spotted an error? Tell us.