Use-After-Free in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-64438)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-64438). 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:
crypto: qat - fix VF2PF work teardown race in adf_disable_sriov()
The VF2PF interrupt handler queues PF-side response work that stores a
raw pointer to per-VF state (struct adf_accel_vf_info). Currently,
adf_disable_sriov() destroys per-VF mutexes and frees vf_info without
stopping new VF2PF work or waiting for in-flight workers to complete. A
concurrently scheduled or already queued worker can then dereference
freed memory.
This manifests as a use-after-free when KASAN is enabled:
BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in mutex_lock+0x76/0xe0
Write of size 8 at addr 0000000000000260 by task kworker/24:2/...
Workqueue: qat_pf2vf_resp_wq adf_iov_send_resp [intel_qat]
Call Trace:
kasan_report+0x119/0x140
mutex_lock+0x76/0xe0
adf_gen4_pfvf_send+0xd4/0x1f0 [intel_qat]
adf_recv_and_handle_vf2pf_msg+0x290/0x360 [intel_qat]
adf_iov_send_resp+0x8c/0xe0 [intel_qat]
process_one_work+0x6ac/0xfd0
worker_thread+0x4dd/0xd30
kthread+0x326/0x410
ret_from_fork+0x33b/0x670
Add a PF-local flag, vf2pf_disabled, that gates work queueing, worker
processing, and interrupt re-enabling during teardown. Set this flag
atomically with the hardware interrupt mask inside
adf_disable_all_vf2pf_interrupts(). After masking, synchronize the AE
cluster MSI-X interrupt and flush the PF response workqueue before
tearing down per-VF locks and state so all in-flight work completes
before vf_info is destroyed.…
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-2026-64438 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 8.8/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-64438" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-64438 (Linux kernel) — CWE-416 / CVSS v3 8.8
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 8.8/10). 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
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-64438 linux Fixed in: 6.1.180-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-64438 linux-aws
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 git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com