Kernel memory corruption via RCU teardown race
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Expired-pointer dereference in the Linux kernel mac802154 subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a teardown race. The bulk hardware-removal path deletes local->interfaces entries with list_del() while RCU readers in ieee802154_wake_queue() can still follow the poisoned node. The race requires namespace capabilities to transmit on an IEEE 802.15.4 interface while deleting its radio; triggering it exposes or corrupts kernel heap data and can crash, panic, or hang the host.
Summary
What happened
Expired-pointer dereference in the Linux kernel mac802154 subsystem allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through a teardown race. The bulk hardware-removal path deletes local->interfaces entries with list_del() while RCU readers in ieee802154_wake_queue() can still follow the poisoned node. The race requires namespace capabilities to transmit on an IEEE 802.15.4 interface while deleting its radio; triggering it exposes or corrupts kernel heap data and can crash, panic, or hang the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-72024
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-825, T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 15, 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=3.19
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <2039f27b1a0c997137a5de7f8a3cee0e80fbf952
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <4bf231f459b542414629b64f63d5cad6701bd07c
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <539dfcf69105d8d3d4d677b71de6e5ede2e6dfa0
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <72ac5af9ad09662bd0ea91cb8845d490c8ef9c01
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <77caf2d6eba7cb94a7ecd7b369a5974fd7d7c054
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <b91e5248dd7af09b500879a46d22a36b60db3a57
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <c7c031b75218b3ba3014a0f6b9849888994528d6
- Affected versionversion=592dfbfc72f5352437c883aa11ab579d10cdb595 <d8b5b66388a51febe4b8505b0ecd9da15b4ba639
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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