Local root escalation via DRM handle race
Published May 28, 2026 · Updated May 28, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.18 through 6.18.31 and 6.19 through 7.1-rc2 allows local users to gain root via a DRM ioctl race. drm_gem_change_handle_ioctl leaves one object under two IDR handles without increasing its handle count, so concurrent GEM_CLOSE frees an object still referenced by the replacement handle. Exploitation requires access to a DRM render node and can overwrite protected files; a lost race can hang the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux Kernel 6.18 through 6.18.31 and 6.19 through 7.1-rc2 allows local users to gain root via a DRM ioctl race. drm_gem_change_handle_ioctl leaves one object under two IDR handles without increasing its handle count, so concurrent GEM_CLOSE frees an object still referenced by the replacement handle. Exploitation requires access to a DRM render node and can overwrite protected files; a lost race can hang the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-46215
- 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
- May 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=53096728b8910c6916ecc6c46a5abc5c678b58d9 <5e28b7b94408897e41c63477aabc9e1db439bc8c
- Affected versionversion=53096728b8910c6916ecc6c46a5abc5c678b58d9 <61bd96d3e5472c253f9c1ab77608f0c8aaa9d025
- Affected versionversion=53096728b8910c6916ecc6c46a5abc5c678b58d9 <672464dd53231509c9c771110798c56d4660e19e
- Affected versionversion=6.18
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Public exploit references
- CVE-2026-46215 DRM GEM change_handle PoCfunctional · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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