CVE-2026-23014

Kernel compromise via active timer use-after-free

Published Jan 28, 2026 · Updated Jan 28, 2026

Use-after-free in the perf software-event timer in Linux Kernel 6.18 allows local users to compromise or crash the kernel via perf events. perf_swevent_cancel_hrtimer() used hrtimer_try_to_cancel(), allowing the timer to remain active after its perf event was freed. Low-privileged local access is required; later timer activity can access the freed event, compromising kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the perf software-event timer in Linux Kernel 6.18 allows local users to compromise or crash the kernel via perf events. perf_swevent_cancel_hrtimer() used hrtimer_try_to_cancel(), allowing the timer to remain active after its perf event was freed. Low-privileged local access is required; later timer activity can access the freed event, compromising kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23014
Published
Jan 28, 2026
Updated
Jan 28, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=6.18
  2. Affected versionversion=6b8c512811644cf2f5eaf6f44e928683c54127f0
  3. Affected versionversion=eb3182ef0405ff2f6668fd3e5ff9883f60ce8801 <deee9dfb111ab00f9dfd46c0c7e36656b80f5235
  4. Affected versionversion=eb3182ef0405ff2f6668fd3e5ff9883f60ce8801 <ff5860f5088e9076ebcccf05a6ca709d5935cfa9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.18; version=6b8c512811644cf2f5eaf6f44e928683c54127f0; version=eb3182ef0405ff2f6668fd3e5ff9883f60ce8801 <deee9dfb111ab00f9dfd46c0c7e36656b80f5235; version=eb3182ef0405ff2f6668fd3e5ff9883f60ce8801 <ff5860f5088e9076ebcccf05a6ca709d5935cfa9

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo