CVE-2026-23281

Kernel memory corruption via asynchronous timer teardown

Published Mar 25, 2026 · Updated Mar 25, 2026

Use-after-free in the Libertas Wi-Fi driver in the Linux Kernel allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during adapter teardown. The lbs_free_adapter() path calls non-synchronous timer_delete() on command_timer and tx_lockup_timer, then lbs_cfg_free() releases their containing structure while a callback can still run. Reaching the flaw requires local access and an adapter teardown concurrent with an active timer callback; the callback then dereferences freed driver state.

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 the Libertas Wi-Fi driver in the Linux Kernel allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during adapter teardown. The lbs_free_adapter() path calls non-synchronous timer_delete() on command_timer and tx_lockup_timer, then lbs_cfg_free() releases their containing structure while a callback can still run. Reaching the flaw requires local access and an adapter teardown concurrent with an active timer callback; the callback then dereferences freed driver state.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23281
Published
Mar 25, 2026
Updated
Mar 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 25, 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=2.6.24
  2. Affected versionversion=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <03cc8f90d0537fcd4985c3319b4fafbf2e3fb1f0
  3. Affected versionversion=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <3c5c818c78b03a1725f3dcd566865c77b48dd3a6
  4. Affected versionversion=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <3f9dec4a6d95d7f1f5e9e9dfdfa173c053bba8dc
  5. Affected versionversion=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <a9f55b14486426d907459bced5825a25063bd922
  6. Affected versionversion=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <d0155fe68f31b339961cf2d4f92937d57e9384e6
  7. Affected versionversion=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <ed7d30f90b77f73a47498686ede83f622b7e4f0d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.24; version=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <03cc8f90d0537fcd4985c3319b4fafbf2e3fb1f0; version=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <3c5c818c78b03a1725f3dcd566865c77b48dd3a6; version=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <3f9dec4a6d95d7f1f5e9e9dfdfa173c053bba8dc; version=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <a9f55b14486426d907459bced5825a25063bd922; version=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <d0155fe68f31b339961cf2d4f92937d57e9384e6; version=954ee164f4f4598afc172c0ec3865d0352e55a0b <ed7d30f90b77f73a47498686ede83f622b7e4f0d

Published CVSS scores

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
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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