Linux: Use After Free
CVE-2026-68374 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 c07caee449c968842a350bfefa049889923b8240, 217774e143d7b5a88739193284b6421be3978601, ab82adf5e63b2d89ead7933ab753b9cedbe028e9 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 0.13% 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 c07caee449c968842a350bfefa049889923b8240 or 217774e143d7b5a88739193284b6421be3978601 or ab82adf5e63b2d89ead7933ab753b9cedbe028e9 or 4e0197fbb0eec588795d5431716a244d9ac8fa93, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 12fc84e8c4288cc8ed5f14a35e077130c2cfece2 up to, but not including, c07caee449c968842a350bfefa049889923b8240; 12fc84e8c4288cc8ed5f14a35e077130c2cfece2 up to, but not including, 217774e143d7b5a88739193284b6421be3978601; 12fc84e8c4288cc8ed5f14a35e077130c2cfece2 up to, but not including, ab82adf5e63b2d89ead7933ab753b9cedbe028e9; 12fc84e8c4288cc8ed5f14a35e077130c2cfece2 up to, but not including, 4e0197fbb0eec588795d5431716a244d9ac8fa93; 6.9 | c07caee449c968842a350bfefa049889923b8240, 217774e143d7b5a88739193284b6421be3978601, ab82adf5e63b2d89ead7933ab753b9cedbe028e9, 4e0197fbb0eec588795d5431716a244d9ac8fa93 |
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: usb: core: sysfs: add lock to bos_descriptors_read() Add a lock to the function bos_descriptors_read(). This function accesses udev->bos, which could be simultaneously freed in usb_reset_and_verify_device(), a function that is commonly called in drivers all over the kernel.
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.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Recent Use After Free vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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