CVE-2026-46213

Kernel memory corruption via timer teardown race

Published May 28, 2026 · Updated May 28, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel appletb-kbd driver allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during Apple HID driver teardown. The appletb_kbd_remove and probe-error cleanup paths either release the backlight device before draining its timer or stop HID after an event can re-arm that timer. Exploitation requires local access, the Apple Touch Bar HID path, and a teardown race; the stale callback reaches freed backlight-device memory.

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 the Linux kernel appletb-kbd driver allows local users to corrupt kernel memory during Apple HID driver teardown. The appletb_kbd_remove and probe-error cleanup paths either release the backlight device before draining its timer or stop HID after an event can re-arm that timer. Exploitation requires local access, the Apple Touch Bar HID path, and a teardown race; the stale callback reaches freed backlight-device memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-46213
Published
May 28, 2026
Updated
May 28, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 28, 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=38224c472a038fa9ccd4085511dd9f3d6119dbf9 <4db2af929279c799b5653a39eb0795c72baffca4
  2. Affected versionversion=38224c472a038fa9ccd4085511dd9f3d6119dbf9 <59a79938ca5541fe55d675304116b7ea684afef0
  3. Affected versionversion=38224c472a038fa9ccd4085511dd9f3d6119dbf9 <93d989e47bc316c793a69c6a332e053c90e29f02
  4. Affected versionversion=51720dee3a61ebace36c3dcdd0b4a488e0970f29
  5. Affected versionversion=6.15.6 <6.16
  6. Affected versionversion=6.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=38224c472a038fa9ccd4085511dd9f3d6119dbf9 <4db2af929279c799b5653a39eb0795c72baffca4; version=38224c472a038fa9ccd4085511dd9f3d6119dbf9 <59a79938ca5541fe55d675304116b7ea684afef0; version=38224c472a038fa9ccd4085511dd9f3d6119dbf9 <93d989e47bc316c793a69c6a332e053c90e29f02; version=51720dee3a61ebace36c3dcdd0b4a488e0970f29; version=6.15.6 <6.16; version=6.16

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
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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