CVE-2026-53046Network attack vector

Kernel crash via asynchronous AEAD request use-after-free

Published Jun 24, 2026 · Updated Jun 24, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel ksmbd allows remote attackers to crash the kernel through SMB traffic on systems using asynchronous AEAD crypto. ksmbd_crypt_message() installs a NULL completion callback and frees an AEAD request when an asynchronous engine returns -EINPROGRESS, while DMA remains in flight. The crash requires ksmbd to process traffic with an asynchronous hardware crypto engine such as Qualcomm QCE; later DMA completion dereferences the freed request.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.52%
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 ksmbd allows remote attackers to crash the kernel through SMB traffic on systems using asynchronous AEAD crypto. ksmbd_crypt_message() installs a NULL completion callback and frees an AEAD request when an asynchronous engine returns -EINPROGRESS, while DMA remains in flight. The crash requires ksmbd to process traffic with an asynchronous hardware crypto engine such as Qualcomm QCE; later DMA completion dereferences the freed request.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53046
Published
Jun 24, 2026
Updated
Jun 24, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <3e298897f41c61450c2e7a4f457e8b2485eb35b3
  3. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <57b47231055b431ed0a1a55f33cac32981564405
  4. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <7164b3953cefd540e7ebca828c793bc6869cfbc4
  5. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <8ef183216feaa24b66b940510d8b68f680eb56e9
  6. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <8fcefe840fa8c14ce667768e5b043286ac3bbcbe
  7. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <b46aa129fa2807bfe1545fe74d9295d53c51520b
  8. Affected versionversion=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <cc2da381875d4a67026e4c8feb3dba51a2a2d1bc

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.15; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <3e298897f41c61450c2e7a4f457e8b2485eb35b3; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <57b47231055b431ed0a1a55f33cac32981564405; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <7164b3953cefd540e7ebca828c793bc6869cfbc4; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <8ef183216feaa24b66b940510d8b68f680eb56e9; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <8fcefe840fa8c14ce667768e5b043286ac3bbcbe; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <b46aa129fa2807bfe1545fe74d9295d53c51520b; version=e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 <cc2da381875d4a67026e4c8feb3dba51a2a2d1bc

Published CVSS scores

9.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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