CVE-2026-53168: Linux kernel · fuse: reject fuse_notify() pagecache ops on directories
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +69
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 Jun 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been released in Linux kernel versions 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 and later. Users should update to these fixed kernel versions or later to remediate this vulnerability. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms the availability of patches. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official kernel updates.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's FUSE subsystem allowed improper use of fuse_notify() pagecache operations on directories. Specifically, the operations FUSE_NOTIFY_STORE and FUSE_NOTIFY_RETRIEVE could be applied to directories, which is not intended and could cause kernel warnings or instability. The issue has been fixed by rejecting these operations on anything other than regular files with an invalid argument error.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-53168 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53168 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/9c954499d43aefac01c5dfb57a82b13d2dcf4b94 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/12df4cfa738aefff21756728e91056d7defb0fe6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/15487f98863dc7156ed43c5be26d478beb82ba35 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/99c317d7f8b7bbf3de16d20a01f363e390114cea (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9c954499d43aefac01c5dfb57a82b13d2dcf4b94 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9dbf1b2fadfc6c40805631d8a8276d1639fc9ab6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bd23fa0c16c5c86e5b7713224ffbb87d9db81cca (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/dd92773d4d9cea010474eb08a5133c14ff6ab53a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e692f0cb86204dcdb9dddc0b355407eda6394a67 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8726-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8727-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8760-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8726-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8726-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8800-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8760-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-2 (opens in a new tab)