CVE-2024-26976

Local kernel code execution via stale KVM callback

Published May 1, 2024 · Updated Aug 5, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux KVM allows local users to execute arbitrary kernel code by unloading KVM during asynchronous vCPU teardown. The vCPU cleanup paths can remove async_pf_execute work from the completion queue without flushing it, allowing the last module reference to be released while that callback still runs. A local low-privileged account with KVM access must create and destroy vCPUs during asynchronous page-fault work; successful exploitation compromises or interrupts the host kernel.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.26%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux KVM allows local users to execute arbitrary kernel code by unloading KVM during asynchronous vCPU teardown. The vCPU cleanup paths can remove async_pf_execute work from the completion queue without flushing it, allowing the last module reference to be released while that callback still runs. A local low-privileged account with KVM access must create and destroy vCPUs during asynchronous page-fault work; successful exploitation compromises or interrupts the host kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2024-26976
Published
May 1, 2024
Updated
Aug 5, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-400, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=2.6.38
  2. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <3d75b8aa5c29058a512db29da7cbee8052724157
  3. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <4f3a3bce428fb439c66a578adc447afce7b4a750
  4. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <82e25cc1c2e93c3023da98be282322fc08b61ffb
  5. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <83d3c5e309611ef593e2fcb78444fc8ceedf9bac
  6. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <a75afe480d4349c524d9c659b1a5a544dbc39a98
  7. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <ab2c2f5d9576112ad22cfd3798071cb74693b1f5
  8. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <b54478d20375874aeee257744dedfd3e413432ff
  9. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <caa9af2e27c275e089d702cfbaaece3b42bca31b
  10. Affected versionversion=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <f8730d6335e5f43d09151fca1f0f41922209a264

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.38; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <3d75b8aa5c29058a512db29da7cbee8052724157; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <4f3a3bce428fb439c66a578adc447afce7b4a750; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <82e25cc1c2e93c3023da98be282322fc08b61ffb; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <83d3c5e309611ef593e2fcb78444fc8ceedf9bac; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <a75afe480d4349c524d9c659b1a5a544dbc39a98; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <ab2c2f5d9576112ad22cfd3798071cb74693b1f5; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <b54478d20375874aeee257744dedfd3e413432ff; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <caa9af2e27c275e089d702cfbaaece3b42bca31b; version=af585b921e5d1e919947c4b1164b59507fe7cd7b <f8730d6335e5f43d09151fca1f0f41922209a264
The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.38; version=af585b921e5d <3d75b8aa5c29; version=af585b921e5d <4f3a3bce428f; version=af585b921e5d <82e25cc1c2e9; version=af585b921e5d <83d3c5e30961; version=af585b921e5d <8730d6335e5; version=af585b921e5d <a75afe480d43; version=af585b921e5d <ab2c2f5d9576; version=af585b921e5d <b54478d20375; version=af585b921e5d <caa9af2e27c2

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Canonical UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-400Uncontrolled Resource Consumption
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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