Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-80981)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-80981). 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:
net/smc: fix use-after-free of the LLC qentry in smc_llc_srv_add_link()
smc_llc_srv_add_link() keeps add_llc pointing into the queue entry:
add_llc = &qentry->msg.add_link; smc_llc.c:1482
...
smc_llc_save_add_link_info(link_new, add_llc); smc_llc.c:1494
smc_llc_flow_qentry_del(&lgr->llc_flow_lcl); smc_llc.c:1495
...
u8 *llc_msg = smc_link_shared_v2_rxbuf(link) ?
(u8 *)lgr->wr_rx_buf_v2 : (u8 *)add_llc; smc_llc.c:1504
smc_llc_save_add_link_rkeys(link, link_new, llc_msg); smc_llc.c:1506
smc_llc_flow_qentry_del() kfree()s the entry, so on a link without a shared
v2 receive buffer the pointer handed to smc_llc_save_add_link_rkeys() is
already freed. Before the Fixes: commit that branch always used
lgr->wr_rx_buf_v2 and add_llc was not used after the free.
Reproduced on an unpatched tree over rxe, with KASAN, kasan_multi_shot
and a link forced to max_recv_sge == 1: the entry is freed and read by
the same call, and the freeing frame is smc_llc_srv_add_link() itself.
[ 2.523161] BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in smc_llc_save_add_link_rkeys+0x333/0x350
[ 2.523499] Read of size 2 at addr ffff8880052194de by task kworker/0:1/11
[ 2.523789]
[ 2.523862] CPU: 0 UID: 0 PID: 11 Comm: kworker/0:1 Not tainted 7.2.0-rc5-p0-g2c9dd296545d #35 PREEMPT(lazy)
[ 2.523865] Hardware name: QEMU Ubuntu 24.04 PC v2 (i440FX + PIIX, arch_caps fix, 1996), BIOS 1.16.3-debian-1.16.3-2 04/01/20…
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-2026-80981 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-2026-80981" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-80981 (Linux kernel) — 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.
A vulnerability (unclassified) 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。
References
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web nvd.nist.gov
- web github.com