CVE-2026-43497

Local kernel-memory access via stale framebuffer mappings

Published May 21, 2026 · Updated May 21, 2026

Use-after-free in affected Linux kernel udlfb releases allows local users to retain read/write access to freed kernel pages. dlfb_ops_mmap maps vmalloc framebuffer pages without VMA operations, so framebuffer reallocation leaves page-table entries pointing at pages later released by dlfb_ops_destroy. Exploitation requires framebuffer-device read/write access and a USB disconnect, after which stale mappings expose recycled kernel memory for disclosure, modification, privilege escalation, or a kernel panic.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.11%
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 affected Linux kernel udlfb releases allows local users to retain read/write access to freed kernel pages. dlfb_ops_mmap maps vmalloc framebuffer pages without VMA operations, so framebuffer reallocation leaves page-table entries pointing at pages later released by dlfb_ops_destroy. Exploitation requires framebuffer-device read/write access and a USB disconnect, after which stale mappings expose recycled kernel memory for disclosure, modification, privilege escalation, or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43497
Published
May 21, 2026
Updated
May 21, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 21, 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 <18dd358de72d57993422cbb5dfb29ccd74efe192
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4f312c30f0368e8d2a76aa650dff73f23490b5e7
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8de779dc40d35d39fa07387b6f921eb11df0f511
  4. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a2c53a3822ee26e8d758071815b9ed3bf6669fc1
  5. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <da9b065cedfd3b574f229d5be594e6aa47a27ae6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <18dd358de72d57993422cbb5dfb29ccd74efe192; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <4f312c30f0368e8d2a76aa650dff73f23490b5e7; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8de779dc40d35d39fa07387b6f921eb11df0f511; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <a2c53a3822ee26e8d758071815b9ed3bf6669fc1; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <da9b065cedfd3b574f229d5be594e6aa47a27ae6

Published CVSS scores

7.3Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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