CVE-2026-43237

Kernel crash via stale AMDGPU fence reference

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.16 through 6.18.15 and 6.19 through 6.19.5 allows local users to crash the kernel via an AMDGPU ioctl. The amdgpu_gem_va_ioctl path selected the last-update fence before VA mapping completed and mishandled its reference, allowing a stale or freed dma_fence to reach the VM timeline syncobj. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to an AMDGPU render or primary node and a crafted ioctl sequence; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.8
High
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 Linux Kernel 6.16 through 6.18.15 and 6.19 through 6.19.5 allows local users to crash the kernel via an AMDGPU ioctl. The amdgpu_gem_va_ioctl path selected the last-update fence before VA mapping completed and mishandled its reference, allowing a stale or freed dma_fence to reach the VM timeline syncobj. Exploitation requires low-privileged local access to an AMDGPU render or primary node and a crafted ioctl sequence; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43237
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0399b8416ecf64ef86ad23401fe23eabdb07831a
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bd8150a1b3370a9f7761c5814202a3fe5a79f44f
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e9e477d3197f7d8955a042c0d7f53f78f13218ba

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0399b8416ecf64ef86ad23401fe23eabdb07831a; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bd8150a1b3370a9f7761c5814202a3fe5a79f44f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e9e477d3197f7d8955a042c0d7f53f78f13218ba

Published CVSS scores

7.8GitHub Advisory DatabaseCVSS: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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