CVE-2026-53400

Kernel memory corruption via I2C registration race

Published Jul 19, 2026 · Updated Jul 19, 2026

Race condition in the Linux Kernel I2C core allows local users to corrupt kernel memory or escalate privileges during adapter registration. The registration path publishes an adapter in the IDR before initializing its embedded struct device, so concurrent i2c_get_adapter() calls can reference uninitialized data and trigger use-after-free or a NULL-pointer dereference. A low-privileged local user needs I2C device access, module-loading capability in a user namespace, or control of hotplug while racing adapter lookup; success grants kernel-level access or crashes the system.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in the Linux Kernel I2C core allows local users to corrupt kernel memory or escalate privileges during adapter registration. The registration path publishes an adapter in the IDR before initializing its embedded struct device, so concurrent i2c_get_adapter() calls can reference uninitialized data and trigger use-after-free or a NULL-pointer dereference. A low-privileged local user needs I2C device access, module-loading capability in a user namespace, or control of hotplug while racing adapter lookup; success grants kernel-level access or crashes the system.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53400
Published
Jul 19, 2026
Updated
Jul 19, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-362, CWE-824, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jul 19, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jul 19, 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=2.6.22
  2. Affected versionversion=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <6a946038f2a5a8c29048c6af369d4e391448a5c5
  3. Affected versionversion=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <78793c75dc6d0ff2e4d50ad617349b328a99054e
  4. Affected versionversion=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <a4c8094bbf4c6fa68b17e3b16f6a0a1b7a14f3e0
  5. Affected versionversion=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <ba14d7cf2fe7284610a29854bdff22b2537d3ce6

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.22; version=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <6a946038f2a5a8c29048c6af369d4e391448a5c5; version=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <78793c75dc6d0ff2e4d50ad617349b328a99054e; version=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <a4c8094bbf4c6fa68b17e3b16f6a0a1b7a14f3e0; version=6e13e641841833cc2aa5baefe89bb04bc388801b <ba14d7cf2fe7284610a29854bdff22b2537d3ce6

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8LinuxCVSS: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-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CWE-824Access of Uninitialized Pointer
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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