Categories
CVE-2026-46121 high CVSS 7.8

Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46121)

Summary

Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46121). 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/sysfs-schemes: protect memcg_path kfree() with damon_sysfs_lock

Patch series "mm/damon/sysfs-schemes: fix use-after-free for [memcg_]path".

Reads of 'memcg_path' and 'path' files in DAMON sysfs interface could race
with their writes, results in use-after-free. Fix those.

This patch (of 2):

damon_sysfs_scheme_filter->mmecg_path can be read and written by users,
via DAMON sysfs memcg_path file. It can also be indirectly read, for the
parameters {on,off}line committing to DAMON. The reads for parameters
committing are protected by damon_sysfs_lock to avoid the sysfs files
being destroyed while any of the parameters are being read. But the
user-driven direct reads and writes are not protected by any lock, while
the write is deallocating the memcg_path-pointing buffer. As a result,
the readers could read the already freed buffer (user-after-free). Note
that the user-reads don't race when the same open file is used by the
writer, due to kernfs's open file locking. Nonetheless, doing the reads
and writes with separate open files would be common. Fix it by protecting
both the user-direct reads and writes with damon_sysfs_lock.

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-2026-46121 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-2026-46121" on the vendor's site.

CVE-2026-46121 (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.

❓ What is the problem

Use-after-free (CWE-416) exists in Linux kernel.

📍 Affected scope

Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.

🔥 Severity

Severity: High (CVSS 7.8/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.

🔧 How to fix

Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.

🛡️ Workaround

Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.

🔍 Detection

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

  1. 1
    Identify 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。

  2. 2
    Post-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

Linux Kernel
[{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"0"},{"fixed":"6.6.140"}]},{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"6.7.0"},{"fixed":"6.12.88"}]},{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"6.13.0"},{"fixed":"6.18.30"}]},{"type":"ECOSYSTEM","events":[{"introduced":"6.16.0"},{"fixed":"7.0.7"}]}]

Fix status by distribution

Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE

References

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