CVE-2026-74512
Published: August 18, 2026Last modified: August 18, 2026
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule() `audit_del_rule()` destroys `e->rule.exe` via `audit_remove_mark_rule()` before unlinking the rule from RCU-visible filter lists and waiting for a grace period. Concurrent readers in `audit_filter()` and `audit_filter_rules()` still dereference `e->rule.exe`, while the fsnotify mark can be freed on an independent lifetime path. This creates a use-after-free window during rule deletion. Fix this by unlinking the rule from the RCU-visible lists and invoking `synchronize_rcu()` before calling `audit_remove_mark_rule()` (and other rule removal helpers). This ensures that all existing RCU readers have exited the critical section before any underlying resources are destroyed.
Severity score breakdown
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Base score | 7.8 |
| Attack Vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | LOW |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | UNCHANGED |
| Confidentiality | HIGH |
| Integrity impact | HIGH |
| Availability impact | HIGH |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H |
Status
| Product | Release | Package | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaquita Linux | 23 LTS | linux-lts | Vulnerable (6.1.182-r0) |
| 25 LTS | linux-lts | Fixed (6.12.103-r0) | |
| Stream | linux-lts | Vulnerable (6.18.43-r0) |
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/246df90b5f1a8a6e6abbd2f058b029558720adec
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45bf3df5b32e5a49953e7ceabc55f7dd85380e46
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b8f46864f06d6dbacb7dcea52bc084dfd122638
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78bde7e9bd36eaae1b8e8cfcd47f12a34f301dbf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cae0dfed5d307b240bff71c3cf206652d1b6f215