Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46011)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46011). 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:
media: mtk-jpeg: fix use-after-free in release path due to uncancelled work
The mtk_jpeg_release() function frees the context structure (ctx) without
first cancelling any pending or running work in ctx->jpeg_work. This
creates a race window where the workqueue callback may still be accessing
the context memory after it has been freed.
Race condition:
CPU 0 (release) CPU 1 (workqueue)
---------------- ------------------
close()
mtk_jpeg_release()
mtk_jpegenc_worker()
ctx = work->data
// accessing ctx
kfree(ctx) // freed!
access ctx // UAF!
The work is queued via queue_work() during JPEG encode/decode operations
(via mtk_jpeg_device_run). If the device is closed while work is pending
or running, the work handler will access freed memory.
Fix this by calling cancel_work_sync() BEFORE acquiring the mutex. This
ordering is critical: if cancel_work_sync() is called after mutex_lock(),
and the work handler also tries to acquire the same mutex, it would cause
a deadlock.
Note: The open error path does NOT need cancel_work_sync() because
INIT_WORK() only initializes the work structure - it does not schedule
it. Work is only scheduled later during ioctl operations.
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-2026-46011 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-2026-46011" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-46011 (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-2026-46011 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.12.87-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46011 linux Fixed in: 6.12.86-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46011 linux-hwe-edge
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 git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com