CVE-2026-68181

Kernel memory corruption via unlocked MEI cleanup

Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel MEI bus cleanup allows local users to corrupt memory or crash the system during device release. The mei_cl_bus_dev_release() function flushes queues without device_lock and traverses bus->file_list after mei_dev_bus_put() can free the final bus reference. Low-privileged local access and a concurrent cleanup race are required; the resulting kernel memory corruption can destabilize the host.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability0.21%
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 MEI bus cleanup allows local users to corrupt memory or crash the system during device release. The mei_cl_bus_dev_release() function flushes queues without device_lock and traverses bus->file_list after mei_dev_bus_put() can free the final bus reference. Low-privileged local access and a concurrent cleanup race are required; the resulting kernel memory corruption can destabilize the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68181
Published
Aug 10, 2026
Updated
Aug 10, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-364, 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=24f4ceeaeee7983c07590149556a0e33efe2ec90 <441559d4c595f839b39f0ab6a4ae628427c2fd9e
  2. Affected versionversion=28de6ca5276a94b0589ae1bf026b89fa0eaf14c0
  3. Affected versionversion=2f29dce5a5ae06a7db32e4491d72269329a86eeb
  4. Affected versionversion=35e8a426b16adbecae7a4e0e3c00fc8d0273db53 <59dd34854202d9a3faaa87a85205e553fe7150e1
  5. Affected versionversion=35e8a426b16adbecae7a4e0e3c00fc8d0273db53 <7cf79e8d682fe93777268f029668ce5e214237fd
  6. Affected versionversion=35e8a426b16adbecae7a4e0e3c00fc8d0273db53 <f112ea910e554d58b4b39a4492b7d302f0f4204f
  7. Affected versionversion=6.1.149 <6.2
  8. Affected versionversion=6.12.43 <6.12.101
  9. Affected versionversion=612c8d21ce6e37b73f3106aec7ffa35959d40261 <c88c030a324c9018b77894a19b2564eb66862020
  10. Affected versionversion=6.15.11 <6.16
  11. Affected versionversion=6.16.2 <6.17
  12. Affected versionversion=6.17
  13. Affected versionversion=6.6.103 <6.6.148
  14. Affected versionversion=6f2a6ef86b23a30b92ad57981de537bce67bfa45

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=24f4ceeaeee7983c07590149556a0e33efe2ec90 <441559d4c595f839b39f0ab6a4ae628427c2fd9e; version=28de6ca5276a94b0589ae1bf026b89fa0eaf14c0; version=2f29dce5a5ae06a7db32e4491d72269329a86eeb; version=35e8a426b16adbecae7a4e0e3c00fc8d0273db53 <59dd34854202d9a3faaa87a85205e553fe7150e1; version=35e8a426b16adbecae7a4e0e3c00fc8d0273db53 <7cf79e8d682fe93777268f029668ce5e214237fd; version=35e8a426b16adbecae7a4e0e3c00fc8d0273db53 <f112ea910e554d58b4b39a4492b7d302f0f4204f; version=6.1.149 <6.2; version=6.12.43 <6.12.101; version=612c8d21ce6e37b73f3106aec7ffa35959d40261 <c88c030a324c9018b77894a19b2564eb66862020; version=6.15.11 <6.16; version=6.16.2 <6.17; version=6.17; version=6.6.103 <6.6.148; version=6f2a6ef86b23a30b92ad57981de537bce67bfa45

Published CVSS scores

7.0OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/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
7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/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-364Signal Handler Race Condition
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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