CVE-2026-23192

Local privilege escalation via linkwatch use-after-free

Published Feb 14, 2026 · Updated Feb 14, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.15 through 6.18.9 and 6.19 release candidates allows local users to elevate privileges. linkwatch_do_dev() drops a device reference before __linkwatch_run_queue() finishes using it, allowing netdev_run_todo() to free the object before netdev_unlock_ops() dereferences it. Unprivileged local users can reach the race through a user namespace with CAP_NET_ADMIN; exploitation enables kernel memory access or control-flow hijacking, while a failed attempt can crash the kernel.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
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 6.15 through 6.18.9 and 6.19 release candidates allows local users to elevate privileges. linkwatch_do_dev() drops a device reference before __linkwatch_run_queue() finishes using it, allowing netdev_run_todo() to free the object before netdev_unlock_ops() dereferences it. Unprivileged local users can reach the race through a user namespace with CAP_NET_ADMIN; exploitation enables kernel memory access or control-flow hijacking, while a failed attempt can crash the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23192
Published
Feb 14, 2026
Updated
Feb 14, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 14, 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=04efcee6ef8d0f01eef495db047e7216d6e6e38f <2718ae6af7445ba2ee0abf6365ca43a9a3b16aeb
  2. Affected versionversion=04efcee6ef8d0f01eef495db047e7216d6e6e38f <83b67cc9be9223183caf91826d9c194d7fb128fa
  3. Affected versionversion=6.15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=04efcee6ef8d0f01eef495db047e7216d6e6e38f <2718ae6af7445ba2ee0abf6365ca43a9a3b16aeb; version=04efcee6ef8d0f01eef495db047e7216d6e6e38f <83b67cc9be9223183caf91826d9c194d7fb128fa; version=6.15

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.4SUSECVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
6.7SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/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 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

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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