CVE-2026-23077

Local privilege escalation via skipped anon_vma duplication

Published Feb 4, 2026 · Updated Feb 4, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.16 through 6.18.7 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via crafted mremap() VMA merges. The vma_expand() path skips dup_anon_vma() when an mremap() target is the next VMA, so a faulted copied VMA can merge with an unfaulted neighbor without duplicating anon_vma state. A low-privileged local process must create the specific faulted and unfaulted adjacency; successful exploitation grants kernel-level data access, modification, or a system crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
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 Kernel 6.16 through 6.18.7 allows local users to corrupt kernel memory via crafted mremap() VMA merges. The vma_expand() path skips dup_anon_vma() when an mremap() target is the next VMA, so a faulted copied VMA can merge with an unfaulted neighbor without duplicating anon_vma state. A low-privileged local process must create the specific faulted and unfaulted adjacency; successful exploitation grants kernel-level data access, modification, or a system crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23077
Published
Feb 4, 2026
Updated
Feb 4, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 4, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=879bca0a2c4f40b08d09a95a2a0c3c6513060b5c <61f67c230a5e7c741c352349ea80147fbe65bfae
  3. Affected versionversion=879bca0a2c4f40b08d09a95a2a0c3c6513060b5c <a4d9dbfc1bab16e25fefd34b5e537a46bed8fc96

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.16; version=879bca0a2c4f40b08d09a95a2a0c3c6513060b5c <61f67c230a5e7c741c352349ea80147fbe65bfae; version=879bca0a2c4f40b08d09a95a2a0c3c6513060b5c <a4d9dbfc1bab16e25fefd34b5e537a46bed8fc96

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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-416Use After Free
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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