Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46288)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46288). 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:
of: unittest: fix use-after-free in of_unittest_changeset()
The variable 'parent' is assigned the value of 'nchangeset' earlier in the
function, meaning both point to the same struct device_node. The call to
of_node_put(nchangeset) can decrement the reference count to zero and
free the node if there are no other holders. After that, the code still
uses 'parent' to check for the presence of a property and to read a
string property, leading to a use-after-free.
Fix this by moving the of_node_put() call after the last access to
'parent', avoiding the UAF.
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-2026-46288 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 8.4/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-46288" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-46288 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 8.4
Attack vector: local / unauthenticated / 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 8.4/10). 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-2026-46288 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.12.87-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46288 linux Fixed in: 6.12.86-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46288 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 git.kernel.org
- web github.com