CVE-2026-53033

Kernel memory corruption via stale AF_UNIX peer pointer

Published Jun 24, 2026 · Updated Jun 24, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel's AF_UNIX sockmap iterator allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a controlled socket-close race. unix_stream_bpf_update_proto() reads the peer pointer without the socket state lock, so unix_release_sock() can clear and free it before sock_hold() increments its reference count. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access with delegated BPF capabilities and a successful AF_UNIX close race; the bounded result is kernel memory corruption.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
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's AF_UNIX sockmap iterator allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a controlled socket-close race. unix_stream_bpf_update_proto() reads the peer pointer without the socket state lock, so unix_release_sock() can clear and free it before sock_hold() increments its reference count. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access with delegated BPF capabilities and a successful AF_UNIX close race; the bounded result is kernel memory corruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53033
Published
Jun 24, 2026
Updated
Jun 24, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-825, CWE-416, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 24, 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=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <1a59cc6b65fd3ad9915aae5970d859109d4ce9fb
  2. Affected versionversion=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <64c2f93fc3254d3bf5de4445fb732ee5c451edb6
  3. Affected versionversion=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <921920c34cb591947dd30c692500795a69f1e3fa
  4. Affected versionversion=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <98f744d204e5d6fca589cd2c44c3190a0c71697f
  5. Affected versionversion=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <c6f4015eac2e3cbc3cb7a17539e10bbb5c2049c3
  6. Affected versionversion=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <d0d124dbcef9318e326956137b31671407094bd4
  7. Affected versionversion=5.15

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <1a59cc6b65fd3ad9915aae5970d859109d4ce9fb; version=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <64c2f93fc3254d3bf5de4445fb732ee5c451edb6; version=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <921920c34cb591947dd30c692500795a69f1e3fa; version=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <98f744d204e5d6fca589cd2c44c3190a0c71697f; version=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <c6f4015eac2e3cbc3cb7a17539e10bbb5c2049c3; version=2c860a43dd77f969bb959336a2f743d7103a8f63 <d0d124dbcef9318e326956137b31671407094bd4; version=5.15

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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-825Expired Pointer Dereference
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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