CVE-2026-74493: Linux kernel · net/smc: fix socket use-after-free during link group termination
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 9.8 Critical · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel as a priority.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 42% 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 +28
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 15 Aug 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: net/smc: fix socket use-after-free during link group termination __smc_lgr_terminate() drops conns_lock after finding a connection in lgr->conns_all, but before taking a reference on its socket. The connection is embedded in the socket, and its registration reference protects it only while the connection remains in the tree. A concurrent close can unregister the connection and drop that reference, freeing the socket before the termination worker reaches sock_hold(). The race is reachable when close overlaps link group termination. Local stress testing reproduced the use-after-free and KASAN reported: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __smc_lgr_terminate.part.0 [smc] Write of size 4 by task kworker/3:3 Workqueue: events smc_lgr_terminate_work [smc] __smc_lgr_terminate.part.0 [smc] The socket was allocated by smc_create(), freed through slab_free_after_rcu_debug(), and was followed by: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. __smc_lgr_terminate.part.0 [smc] Take the socket reference while conns_lock still protects the tree entry. The unregister path then cannot drop the last reference until termination has finished using the socket.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-74493 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74493 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f621d6ebeebb6374342571e4ddf45fdbc420f6cd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/281c103a8eaed59001ce952f231df1b07674215a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5a42f162b857019a4c10ff687dc3bcdf51831865 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f0541a775d04c88e90ba448e35ce0d743512822a (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f621d6ebeebb6374342571e4ddf45fdbc420f6cd (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f807a63d0d95680c34f677700da9148a07d7c78f (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8781-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8876-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)