CVE-2026-68178

Local code execution via unpinned NSM module

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Use-after-free in the NSM misc device in affected Linux kernel releases allows local users to execute code or crash the system. Because nsm_dev_fops.owner is unset, opening /dev/nsm takes no module reference; an open descriptor can survive rmmod and later dispatch an ioctl into unloaded module text. Exploitation requires NSM hardware, the driver built as a module, and module removal while the file descriptor remains open.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.16%
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 NSM misc device in affected Linux kernel releases allows local users to execute code or crash the system. Because nsm_dev_fops.owner is unset, opening /dev/nsm takes no module reference; an open descriptor can survive rmmod and later dispatch an ioctl into unloaded module text. Exploitation requires NSM hardware, the driver built as a module, and module removal while the file descriptor remains open.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68178
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-763, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 10, 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=6.8
  2. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77
  3. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f
  4. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9
  5. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.8; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.8CVE ProgramCVSS: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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-763Release of Invalid Pointer or Reference
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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