Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-64401)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-64401). 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:
smb: client: resolve SWN tcon from live registrations
cifs_swn_notify() looks up a witness registration by id under
cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex, drops the mutex, and then uses the registration's
cached tcon pointer. That pointer is not a lifetime reference, and it is
not a stable representative once cifs_get_swn_reg() lets multiple tcons
for the same net/share name share one registration id.
A same-share second mount can keep the cifs_swn_reg alive after the first
tcon unregisters and is freed. The registration then still points at the
freed first tcon, so taking tc_lock or incrementing tc_count through
swnreg->tcon only moves the use-after-free earlier. Taking tc_lock while
holding cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex also violates the documented CIFS lock
order.
Fix this by making the registration store only the stable witness
identity: id, net name, share name, and notify flags. When a notify
arrives, copy that identity under cifs_swnreg_idr_mutex, drop the mutex,
then find and pin a live witness tcon that currently matches the net/share
pair under the normal cifs_tcp_ses_lock -> tc_lock order. The notification
path uses that pinned tcon directly and drops the reference when done.
Registration and unregister messages now use the live tcon passed by the
caller instead of a cached tcon in the registration. The final unregister
send is folded into cifs_swn_unregister() while the registration is still
protected by cifs_…
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-2026-64401 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-2026-64401" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-64401 (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。
References
- patch git.kernel.org
- patch git.kernel.org
- patch git.kernel.org
- patch git.kernel.org
- patch git.kernel.org
- patch git.kernel.org
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web github.com