Memory corruption via probe error race
Published Apr 24, 2026 · Updated Apr 24, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux Kernel HackRF driver allows local users to trigger kernel memory misuse during a failed device probe. The hackrf_probe() error path unregisters an exposed V4L2 device and directly frees hackrf_dev while open descriptors can still reach ioctl and release handlers. Triggering that path requires root or CAP_SYS_ADMIN access to the USB driver's sysfs unbind/bind interface, and the race can cause stale kernel-memory access or a double free.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux Kernel HackRF driver allows local users to trigger kernel memory misuse during a failed device probe. The hackrf_probe() error path unregisters an exposed V4L2 device and directly frees hackrf_dev while open descriptors can still reach ioctl and release handlers. Triggering that path requires root or CAP_SYS_ADMIN access to the USB driver's sysfs unbind/bind interface, and the race can cause stale kernel-memory access or a double free.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31576
- Published
- Apr 24, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 24, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-416
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 24, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <07e9e674b6146b1f6fc41b1f54b8968bf2802824
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2145c71a8044362e82e9923f001ba2aeb771b848
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <98a0a81ce78020c2522e0046f49d200de9778cb9
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <fcd1d70792a35c8a97414fe429f48311e41269c2
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Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
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Technologies
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