CVE-2026-23216Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via premature connection free

Published Feb 18, 2026 · Updated Feb 18, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel iSCSI target allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory during connection teardown. iscsit_dec_conn_usage_count() calls complete() while holding conn_usage_lock, letting a waiter free iscsit_conn before spin_unlock_bh() releases its embedded lock. Successful triggering requires the iSCSI target path and a teardown timing race; published evidence demonstrates a KASAN fault, not a specific code-execution primitive.

CVSS severity9.2
Critical
EPSS probability0.12%
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 the Linux kernel iSCSI target allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory during connection teardown. iscsit_dec_conn_usage_count() calls complete() while holding conn_usage_lock, letting a waiter free iscsit_conn before spin_unlock_bh() releases its embedded lock. Successful triggering requires the iSCSI target path and a teardown timing race; published evidence demonstrates a KASAN fault, not a specific code-execution primitive.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23216
Published
Feb 18, 2026
Updated
Feb 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 18, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <275016a551ba1a068a3bd6171b18611726b67110
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3835e49e146a4e6e7787b29465f1a23379b6ec44
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <48fe983e92de2c59d143fe38362ad17ba23ec7f3
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <73b487d44bf4f92942629d578381f89c326ff77f
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8518f072fc92921418cd9ed4268dd4f3e9a8fd75
  6. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9411a89e9e7135cc459178fa77a3f1d6191ae903
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ba684191437380a07b27666eb4e72748be1ea201

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <275016a551ba1a068a3bd6171b18611726b67110; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3835e49e146a4e6e7787b29465f1a23379b6ec44; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <48fe983e92de2c59d143fe38362ad17ba23ec7f3; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <73b487d44bf4f92942629d578381f89c326ff77f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8518f072fc92921418cd9ed4268dd4f3e9a8fd75; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9411a89e9e7135cc459178fa77a3f1d6191ae903; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ba684191437380a07b27666eb4e72748be1ea201

Published CVSS scores

9.2UbuntuCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N
7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8NIST NVDCVSS: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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free

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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