Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-43388)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-43388). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
mm/damon/core: clear walk_control on inactive context in damos_walk()
damos_walk() sets ctx->walk_control to the caller-provided control
structure before checking whether the context is running. If the context
is inactive (damon_is_running() returns false), the function returns
-EINVAL without clearing ctx->walk_control. This leaves a dangling
pointer to a stack-allocated structure that will be freed when the caller
returns.
This is structurally identical to the bug fixed in commit f9132fbc2e83
("mm/damon/core: remove call_control in inactive contexts") for
damon_call(), which had the same pattern of linking a control object and
returning an error without unlinking it.
The dangling walk_control pointer can cause:
- Use-after-free if the context is later started and kdamond
dereferences ctx->walk_control (e.g., in damos_walk_cancel()
which writes to control->canceled and calls complete()) - Permanent -EBUSY from subsequent damos_walk() calls, since the
stale pointer is non-NULL
Nonetheless, the real user impact is quite restrictive. The
use-after-free is impossible because there is no damos_walk() callers who
starts the context later. The permanent -EBUSY can actually confuse
users, as DAMON is not running. But the symptom is kept only while the
context is turned off. Turning it on again will make DAMON internally
uses a newly generated damon_ctx object that doesn't have the invalid
damos…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-43388 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-43388" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-43388 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 7.8
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
Use-after-free (CWE-416) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- BellSoft Alpaquita BELL-CVE-2026-43388 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.18.35-r1
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43388 linux Fixed in: 6.19.10-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-43388 linux
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory github.com
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com