CVE-2026-68179

Local kernel compromise via unmatched mutex unlock

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Improper locking in affected Linux kernel NSM driver releases allows local users to compromise an enclave kernel through a crafted ioctl. nsm_dev_ioctl() sends a failed pre-lock copy_from_user() path to a shared exit label that unlocks nsm->lock although that mutex was never acquired. Any local process with access to the mode-0666 /dev/nsm device can trigger unsynchronized kernel message handling, enabling kernel-state corruption, disclosure, panic, or hang.

CVSS severity8.4
High
EPSS probability0.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper locking in affected Linux kernel NSM driver releases allows local users to compromise an enclave kernel through a crafted ioctl. nsm_dev_ioctl() sends a failed pre-lock copy_from_user() path to a shared exit label that unlocks nsm->lock although that mutex was never acquired. Any local process with access to the mode-0666 /dev/nsm device can trigger unsynchronized kernel message handling, enabling kernel-state corruption, disclosure, panic, or hang.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68179
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-832, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

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 <4aa3f7d48e91eb74a363c1b4d7dbdd28f5b341fb
  3. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <8f068342096b027181b168d91fef7ac7a2c64b25
  4. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <ce1fed11d18e163baf7f875152a33bf80f625c1a
  5. Affected versionversion=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <f318f5a872cb9096536e759b23ae5c9873bb80ed

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.8; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <4aa3f7d48e91eb74a363c1b4d7dbdd28f5b341fb; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <8f068342096b027181b168d91fef7ac7a2c64b25; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <ce1fed11d18e163baf7f875152a33bf80f625c1a; version=b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749 <f318f5a872cb9096536e759b23ae5c9873bb80ed

Published CVSS scores

8.4Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5SUSECVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-832Unlock of a Resource that is not Locked
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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