Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-52976)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-52976). 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:
drm/xe: Fix error cleanup in xe_exec_queue_create_ioctl()
Two error handling issues exist in xe_exec_queue_create_ioctl():
-
When xe_hw_engine_group_add_exec_queue() fails, the error path jumps
to put_exec_queue which skips xe_exec_queue_kill(). If the VM is in
preempt fence mode, xe_vm_add_compute_exec_queue() has already added
the queue to the VM's compute exec queue list. Skipping the kill
leaves the queue on that list, leading to a dangling pointer after
the queue is freed. -
When xa_alloc() fails after xe_hw_engine_group_add_exec_queue() has
succeeded, the error path does not call
xe_hw_engine_group_del_exec_queue() to remove the queue from the hw
engine group list. The queue is then freed while still linked into
the hw engine group, causing a use-after-free.
Fix both by:
- Changing the xe_hw_engine_group_add_exec_queue() failure path to jump
to kill_exec_queue so that xe_exec_queue_kill() properly removes the
queue from the VM's compute list. - Adding a del_hw_engine_group label before kill_exec_queue for the
xa_alloc() failure path, which removes the queue from the hw engine
group before proceeding with the rest of the cleanup.
(cherry picked from commit 37c831f401746a45d510b312b0ed7a77b1e06ec8)
Source: GitHub Security Advisories (Global) 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-2026-52976 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-2026-52976" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-52976 (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-2026-52976 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.12.92-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-52976 linux Fixed in: 6.12.94-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-52976 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory access.redhat.com
- advisory access.redhat.com
- advisory access.redhat.com
- advisory access.redhat.com
- advisory access.redhat.com
- advisory github.com
- package git.kernel.org
- report bugzilla.redhat.com
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com
- web security.access.redhat.com