Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-53260)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-53260). 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:
tcp: Add preempt_{disable,enable}_nested() in reqsk_queue_hash_req().
syzbot reported a weird reqsk->rsk_refcnt underflow in
__inet_csk_reqsk_queue_drop().
The captured reqsk_put() in __inet_csk_reqsk_queue_drop()
is called only when it successfully removes reqsk from ehash.
Moreover, reqsk_timer_handler() calls another reqsk_put()
after that.
This indicates that the reqsk was missing both refcnts for
ehash and the timer itself.
Since all the syzbot reports had PREEMPT_RT enabled, the only
possible scenario is that reqsk_queue_hash_req() is preempted
after mod_timer() and before refcount_set(), and then the timer
triggered after 1s aborts the reqsk due to its listener's close().
Let's wrap mod_timer() and refcount_set() with
preempt_disable_nested() and preempt_enable_nested().
Note that inet_ehash_insert() holds the normal spin_lock()
(mutex in PREEMPT_RT), so it must be called outside of
preempt_disable_nested(), but this is fine.
The lookup path just ignores 0 sk_refcnt entries in ehash
and tries to create another reqsk, but this will fail at
inet_ehash_insert().
[0]:
refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free.
WARNING: lib/refcount.c:28 at refcount_warn_saturate+0xb2/0x110 lib/refcount.c:28, CPU#0: ktimers/0/16
Modules linked in:
CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 16 Comm: ktimers/0 Tainted: G L syzkaller #0 PREEMPT_{RT,(full)}
Tainted: [L]=SOFTLOCKUP
Hardware name: Google Google Compute Engine/Goog…
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-2026-53260 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 9.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-53260" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-53260 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 9.8
Attack vector: remote (network-reachable) / 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: Critical (CVSS 9.8/10). 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-2026-53260 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.12.103-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53260 linux Fixed in: 6.12.100-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-53260 linux-hwe-edge
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory github.com
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org