Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-74609)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-74609). 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:
tipc: read le->link under the node lock in tipc_node_link_down()
tipc_node_link_down() caches the link pointer before taking n->lock:
struct tipc_link *l = le->link; /* unlocked */
if (!l)
return;
tipc_node_write_lock(n);
if (!tipc_link_is_establishing(l)) { /* deref l */
...
tipc_link_reset(l); /* write into l */
if (delete) {
kfree(l);
le->link = NULL;
The delete=true caller frees that very object under n->lock, so the lock
does not protect the cached pointer against it:
- CPU A, delete=false: tipc_rcv() on TIPC_LINK_DOWN_EVT, or the link
supervision timer via tipc_node_timeout(), reads l unlocked and then
dereferences it under n->lock; - CPU B, delete=true: netlink TIPC_NL_BEARER_DISABLE -> bearer_disable()
-> tipc_node_delete_links() -> tipc_node_link_down(n, bearer_id, true)
-> kfree(l).
The link is freed with plain kfree(), not kfree_rcu(), and for UDP bearers
disable_media() only schedules the asynchronous cleanup_bearer() work, so
its synchronize_net() runs after the links are already gone. An in-flight
CPU A that has read l therefore dereferences freed memory once B frees it:
a use-after-free read in tipc_link_is_establishing(), and a use-after-free
write via tipc_link_reset() on the establishing branch.
The following trace was captured on 7.2.0-rc5-00284-gaf39eb111ce6:
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in tipc_link_is_establishing (net/tipc/link.c:285)
Read…
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-2026-74609 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-2026-74609" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-74609 (Linux kernel) — 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.
A vulnerability (unclassified) 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
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-74609 linux Fixed in: 6.1.187-1
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74609 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