Kernel memory corruption via probe-path double free
Published Feb 4, 2026 · Updated Feb 4, 2026
A double free in the Linux kernel SPI Spreadtrum ADI driver corrupts kernel memory during a failed device probe. The probe error path manually releases a controller registered for device-managed cleanup, so the device core releases the same spi_controller again. The path requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN and failure of devm_register_restart_handler(), a kernel-internal condition that attackers cannot invoke or influence.
Summary
What happened
A double free in the Linux kernel SPI Spreadtrum ADI driver corrupts kernel memory during a failed device probe. The probe error path manually releases a controller registered for device-managed cleanup, so the device core releases the same spi_controller again. The path requires CAP_SYS_ADMIN and failure of devm_register_restart_handler(), a kernel-internal condition that attackers cannot invoke or influence.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-23068
- Published
- Feb 4, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 4, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-415
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 4, 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.
- Affected versionversion=4.17
- Affected versionversion=ac1775012058e13ef1522938e27f5973d9e3f053 <346775f2b4cf839177e8e86b94aa180a06dc15b0
- Affected versionversion=ac1775012058e13ef1522938e27f5973d9e3f053 <383d4f5cffcc8df930d95b06518a9d25a6d74aac
- Affected versionversion=ac1775012058e13ef1522938e27f5973d9e3f053 <417cdfd9b9f986e95bfcb1d68eb443e6e0a15f8c
- Affected versionversion=ac1775012058e13ef1522938e27f5973d9e3f053 <f6d6b3f172df118db582fe5ec43ae223a55d99cf
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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