CVE-2026-74512 (GCVE-0-2026-74512)
Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2026-08-15 12:27 – Updated: 2026-08-19 16:38
VLAI
EPSS
VEX
Title
audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule()
Summary
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
7.8 (High)
Assigner
References
8 references
Impacted products
2 products
| Vendor | Product | Version | CPE status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
Affected:
34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 93616c567469510b7bba55b2674e0c4523fd7e64
(git)
Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 3f82927b399d7a276c0c12b6ff4424b747a0c9a7 (git) Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 8ae135a8962be9d4e8a131eb18eb06cdf02a47ce (git) Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 45bf3df5b32e5a49953e7ceabc55f7dd85380e46 (git) Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 78bde7e9bd36eaae1b8e8cfcd47f12a34f301dbf (git) Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < cae0dfed5d307b240bff71c3cf206652d1b6f215 (git) Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 5b8f46864f06d6dbacb7dcea52bc084dfd122638 (git) Affected: 34d99af52ad40bd498ba66970579a5bc1fb1a3bc , < 246df90b5f1a8a6e6abbd2f058b029558720adec (git) |
guessed | |
| Linux | Linux |
Affected:
4.3
Unaffected: 0 , < 4.3 (semver) Unaffected: 5.10.265 , ≤ 5.10.* (semver) Unaffected: 5.15.216 , ≤ 5.15.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.1.183 , ≤ 6.1.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.6.151 , ≤ 6.6.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.12.103 , ≤ 6.12.* (semver) Unaffected: 6.18.44 , ≤ 6.18.* (semver) Unaffected: 7.1.8 , ≤ 7.1.* (semver) Unaffected: 7.2 , ≤ * (original_commit_for_fix) |
guessed |
{
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"product": "Linux",
"programFiles": [
"kernel/auditfilter.c"
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{
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"status": "unaffected",
"version": "0",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
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"status": "unaffected",
"version": "5.10.265",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "5.15.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "5.15.216",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.1.183",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
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"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.6.151",
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},
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"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.12.103",
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},
{
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"version": "6.18.44",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
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"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.1.8",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.2",
"versionType": "original_commit_for_fix"
}
]
}
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"cpeApplicability": [
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},
{
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{
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},
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},
{
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"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\naudit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule()\n\n`audit_del_rule()` destroys `e-\u003erule.exe` via `audit_remove_mark_rule()`\nbefore unlinking the rule from RCU-visible filter lists and waiting for a\ngrace period. Concurrent readers in `audit_filter()` and\n`audit_filter_rules()` still dereference `e-\u003erule.exe`, while the fsnotify\nmark can be freed on an independent lifetime path. This creates a\nuse-after-free window during rule deletion.\n\nFix this by unlinking the rule from the RCU-visible lists and invoking\n`synchronize_rcu()` before calling `audit_remove_mark_rule()` (and other\nrule removal helpers). This ensures that all existing RCU readers have\nexited the critical section before any underlying resources are destroyed."
}
],
"metrics": [
{
"cvssV3_1": {
"baseScore": 7.8,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"scenarios": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "AV:L - Reachable only via local NETLINK_AUDIT (AUDIT_DEL_RULE) or filesystem events that autoremove AUDIT_EXE rules; concurrent UAF readers run in syscall/io_uring exit audit filtering on the local host, not from remote network input.\nAC:L - The attacker controls both sides of the race by deleting an AUDIT_EXE rule (auditctl or deleting/moving the audited executable) while driving concurrent syscall/io_uring activity to keep RCU readers in audit_filter()/audit_filter_rules().\nPR:L - Besides CAP_AUDIT_CONTROL netlink deletion, unprivileged local users can trigger audit_del_rule() via fsnotify autoremove when deleting/moving an admin-configured audited executable they can write, without init-namespace root.\nUI:N - Exploitation requires no victim interaction; the attacker schedules rule deletion and concurrent audited syscalls/io_uring exits to hit the UAF window.\nS:U - Impact is kernel heap memory corruption and local privilege escalation within the host kernel security domain, not a documented cross-VM or IOMMU boundary escape.\nC:H - Use-after-free of audit_fsnotify_mark while audit_exe_compare()/audit_mark_compare() dereference mark-\u003eino/dev enables arbitrary kernel memory reads and info disclosure primitives.\nI:H - Freed fsnotify mark objects can be reallocated and corrupted to obtain arbitrary kernel writes, control-flow hijack, and local root code execution beyond audit rule deletion.\nA:H - Concurrent dereference of a freed audit_fsnotify_mark during audit filtering can immediately oops/panic the kernel; repeated triggering yields reliable denial of service."
}
]
}
],
"providerMetadata": {
"dateUpdated": "2026-08-19T16:38:09.879Z",
"orgId": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"shortName": "Linux"
},
"references": [
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"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/93616c567469510b7bba55b2674e0c4523fd7e64"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3f82927b399d7a276c0c12b6ff4424b747a0c9a7"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ae135a8962be9d4e8a131eb18eb06cdf02a47ce"
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{
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},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78bde7e9bd36eaae1b8e8cfcd47f12a34f301dbf"
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{
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},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b8f46864f06d6dbacb7dcea52bc084dfd122638"
},
{
"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/246df90b5f1a8a6e6abbd2f058b029558720adec"
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"title": "audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule()",
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"cveId": "CVE-2026-74512",
"datePublished": "2026-08-15T12:27:33.736Z",
"dateReserved": "2026-08-15T05:44:03.909Z",
"dateUpdated": "2026-08-19T16:38:09.879Z",
"state": "PUBLISHED"
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"id": "msrc_CVE-2026-74512",
"initial_release_date": "2026-08-23T15:03:17.000Z",
"product_status:fixed": "1",
"product_status:known_affected": "1",
"source": "Microsoft CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule()",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-74512.json",
"version": "3"
},
"nvd": {
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"product": "Linux",
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"versions": [
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"versionType": "semver"
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{
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"status": "unaffected",
"version": "5.10.265",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "5.15.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "5.15.216",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.1.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.1.183",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.6.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.6.151",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.12.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.12.103",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "6.18.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "6.18.44",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
"lessThanOrEqual": "7.1.*",
"status": "unaffected",
"version": "7.1.8",
"versionType": "semver"
},
{
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"status": "unaffected",
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]
}
],
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}
],
"cveTags": [],
"descriptions": [
{
"lang": "en",
"value": "In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:\n\naudit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule()\n\n`audit_del_rule()` destroys `e-\u003erule.exe` via `audit_remove_mark_rule()`\nbefore unlinking the rule from RCU-visible filter lists and waiting for a\ngrace period. Concurrent readers in `audit_filter()` and\n`audit_filter_rules()` still dereference `e-\u003erule.exe`, while the fsnotify\nmark can be freed on an independent lifetime path. This creates a\nuse-after-free window during rule deletion.\n\nFix this by unlinking the rule from the RCU-visible lists and invoking\n`synchronize_rcu()` before calling `audit_remove_mark_rule()` (and other\nrule removal helpers). This ensures that all existing RCU readers have\nexited the critical section before any underlying resources are destroyed."
}
],
"id": "CVE-2026-74512",
"lastModified": "2026-08-19T17:21:07.980",
"metrics": {
"cvssMetricV31": [
{
"cvssData": {
"attackComplexity": "LOW",
"attackVector": "LOCAL",
"availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
"baseScore": 7.8,
"baseSeverity": "HIGH",
"confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
"integrityImpact": "HIGH",
"privilegesRequired": "LOW",
"scope": "UNCHANGED",
"userInteraction": "NONE",
"vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"version": "3.1"
},
"exploitabilityScore": 1.8,
"impactScore": 5.9,
"source": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"type": "Secondary"
}
]
},
"published": "2026-08-15T13:17:56.300",
"references": [
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{
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},
{
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"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/45bf3df5b32e5a49953e7ceabc55f7dd85380e46"
},
{
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},
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"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8ae135a8962be9d4e8a131eb18eb06cdf02a47ce"
},
{
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"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/93616c567469510b7bba55b2674e0c4523fd7e64"
},
{
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"url": "https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cae0dfed5d307b240bff71c3cf206652d1b6f215"
}
],
"sourceIdentifier": "416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67",
"vulnStatus": "Received"
}
},
"redhat_vex": {
"aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
"current_release_date": "2026-08-19T18:10:19+00:00",
"cve": "CVE-2026-74512",
"id": "CVE-2026-74512",
"initial_release_date": "2026-08-15T00:00:00+00:00",
"product_status:known_affected": "274",
"source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
"status": "final",
"title": "kernel: audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule()",
"url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-74512.json",
"version": "3"
},
"suse_vex": {
"aggregate_severity": "moderate",
"current_release_date": "2026-09-22T16:35:36Z",
"cve": "CVE-2026-74512",
"id": "CVE-2026-74512",
"initial_release_date": "2026-08-15T23:51:16Z",
"product_status:first_fixed": "60",
"product_status:known_affected": "715",
"product_status:known_not_affected": "4",
"product_status:recommended": "107",
"source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
"status": "interim",
"title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2026-74512",
"url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2026-74512.json",
"version": "12"
}
}
}
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Experimental. This forecast is provided for visualization only and may change without notice. Do not use it for operational decisions.
Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.
Sightings
| Author | Source | Type | Date | Other |
|---|
Nomenclature
- Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
- Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
- Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
- Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
- Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
- Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
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The MITRE ATT&CK techniques below are AI-generated suggestions, inferred from the description of the
vulnerability by the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-classification-roberta-base
model, served locally by ML-Gateway.
They have not been verified by an analyst and are provided for guidance only.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
The approach is described in our paper Mapping CVEs to MITRE ATT&CK Techniques: A Curated Gold-Set Classifier and the Limits of LLM-Assisted Label Expansion.
Browse all ATT&CK techniques and the vulnerabilities related to each.
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Related by attack behaviour
Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.
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