CVE-2026-97533: Linux kernel · x86/mm/pat: Acquire init_mm read lock on attribute changes to avoid UAF
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · fixed in e21a9ea81426a85fdb0cdcfcc99d5d9c16b402ab : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:44 UTC
Rated High by Threat Radar's AI analysis · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in e21a9ea81426a85fdb0cdcfcc99d5d9c16b402ab, d5d8b8662e6e5a565b47a0388640e88402f23274, cc73b2043d106b467accd38e9b1fc09e0607c056
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 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
Upgrade Linux kernel to e21a9ea81426a85fdb0cdcfcc99d5d9c16b402ab, d5d8b8662e6e5a565b47a0388640e88402f23274 or cc73b2043d106b467accd38e9b1fc09e0607c056.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix is available and has been applied in Linux kernel version 6.15. Users and administrators should upgrade to this version or later to mitigate the vulnerability. No additional mitigation actions are required beyond applying the official patch.
Description
CVE-2026-97533 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's x86 memory management related to page attribute changes. The flaw arises from a race condition between attribute changes and page table entry (PTE) collapse, where a lockless page table walker can obtain a PTE that is later freed concurrently, leading to use-after-free. The issue is resolved by acquiring an init_mm read lock during attribute changes to prevent this race, with careful handling to avoid deadlocks during page table allocations. The fix is applied in Linux kernel version 6.15.