CVE-2026-53239: Linux kernel · Use After Free
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 0% 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:H/I:H/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.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: xfrm: policy: fix use-after-free on inexact bin in xfrm_policy_bysel_ctx() Fix the race by pruning the bin while still holding xfrm_policy_lock, before dropping it. Use __xfrm_policy_inexact_prune_bin() directly since the lock is already held. The wrapper xfrm_policy_inexact_prune_bin() becomes unused and is removed. Race: CPU0 (XFRM_MSG_DELPOLICY) CPU1 (XFRM_MSG_NEWSPDINFO) ========================== ========================== xfrm_policy_bysel_ctx(): spin_lock_bh(xfrm_policy_lock) bin = xfrm_policy_inexact_lookup() __xfrm_policy_unlink(pol) spin_unlock_bh(xfrm_policy_lock) xfrm_policy_kill(ret) // wide window, lock not held xfrm_hash_rebuild(): spin_lock_bh(xfrm_policy_lock) __xfrm_policy_inexact_flush(): kfree_rcu(bin) // bin freed spin_unlock_bh(xfrm_policy_lock) xfrm_policy_inexact_prune_bin(bin) // UAF: bin is freed
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-53239 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53239 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/7f2d76c9c03257c0782afef9d95321fa04096f60 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/25c8c7fb3b0b9668c7d05e209f58c158d2b020c7 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/42827d03f8009a6a218bacab153e21f39d6a121c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f2d76c9c03257c0782afef9d95321fa04096f60 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/88697cf980222d5906a37bf47662dac0732e2a0f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fc536e9f6856230f19c7d13e71af064b6a77b22 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5316e2b8614a87d8736941972441cb47bfd4491 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c4c1ea36d83bf3c4569468ca5b8b614fda1bf821 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec82ea4eb220164d854f8734ca5a35e23e577b94 (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)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53239 (opens in a new tab)
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8760-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8781-1 (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)