Kernel memory corruption via CPU-timer exec race
Published Jul 29, 2026 · Updated Jul 29, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux kernel POSIX CPU timers allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing timer deletion with non-leader exec(). The deletion path frees an armed TGID-targeted POSIX timer after lock_task_sighand() follows the old group leader, leaving its timerqueue node enqueued and later dereferenced. A local process must win the race while the timer is armed and enqueued; subsequent timer processing can corrupt kernel memory or crash the system.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel POSIX CPU timers allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by racing timer deletion with non-leader exec(). The deletion path frees an armed TGID-targeted POSIX timer after lock_task_sighand() follows the old group leader, leaving its timerqueue node enqueued and later dereferenced. A local process must win the race while the timer is armed and enqueued; subsequent timer processing can corrupt kernel memory or crash the system.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-64560
- Published
- Jul 29, 2026
- Updated
- Jul 29, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jul 29, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jul 29, 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=55e8c8eb2c7b6bf30e99423ccfe7ca032f498f59 <920f893f735e92ba3a1cd9256899a186b161928d
- Affected versionversion=55e8c8eb2c7b6bf30e99423ccfe7ca032f498f59 <ad1cafa1bdaa71da85d71cac053838bbe97852b6
- Affected versionversion=5.7
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- CVE-2026-64560 Linux and Android race reproducerproof of concept · unverified
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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