Kernel memory corruption via unreferenced connection pointers
Published Aug 10, 2026 · Updated Aug 10, 2026
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth management code allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory. Management callbacks retain hci_conn pointers beyond RCU protection without incrementing their reference counts, while unlocked lookups race with connection teardown. Exploitation requires a trusted HCI management socket with CAP_NET_ADMIN and attacker-controlled command and teardown timing; successful triggering also crashes or panics the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in the Linux kernel's Bluetooth management code allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory. Management callbacks retain hci_conn pointers beyond RCU protection without incrementing their reference counts, while unlocked lookups race with connection teardown. Exploitation requires a trusted HCI management socket with CAP_NET_ADMIN and attacker-controlled command and teardown timing; successful triggering also crashes or panics the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-68391
- Published
- Aug 10, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 10, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-911, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=6.0
- Affected versionversion=7b445e220db9a2c58be5d09bbbd322abf1b1452a <b56f2ecafc08f372bf0529f9c4f3f429cb1702dc
- Affected versionversion=7b445e220db9a2c58be5d09bbbd322abf1b1452a <d5b3b484b62bb0f4542e7622789d28871626cdf0
- Affected versionversion=7b445e220db9a2c58be5d09bbbd322abf1b1452a <da55f570191d5d72f10c607a7043b947eb05ea46
- Affected versionversion=7b445e220db9a2c58be5d09bbbd322abf1b1452a <ecdcb55ea1c01dda074406f38058785a69526734
- Affected versionversion=7b445e220db9a2c58be5d09bbbd322abf1b1452a <f915e74b6f18293d1d69a2a3305ef321ff7c0172
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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