CVE-2026-89791: Linux kernel · perf: Fix use-after-free when perf mmap() revival races with the last munmap()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
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 16 Sep 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
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 that reorders the reference count updates and serialization to prevent the race condition causing the use-after-free. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include this patch. No alternative mitigations are indicated in the advisory.
Description
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's perf subsystem was resolved. The flaw occurs due to a race condition between perf mmap() revival and the last munmap() call, leading to a page-level use-after-free. This can allow local privilege escalation to root by any unprivileged user when kernel.perf_event_paranoid is set to 2. The fix involves reordering reference count updates and serialization to prevent the race condition.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-89791 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-89791 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/58a8108bc73de0740d5b88150465d6690ea5f85f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0c739f54f1c77f3a4643160cd2e031b6c2f2aab6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/58a8108bc73de0740d5b88150465d6690ea5f85f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/929cb3b9dc818dd9fa89d510d4ff2b255e42badd (opens in a new tab)