CVE-2026-74442

Kernel panic via NULL workqueue destruction

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux allows local users to panic an affected VMware guest kernel during vmwgfx module unload. vmw_vkms_cleanup() passes a NULL crc_workq to destroy_workqueue() after vmw_vkms_init() exits before allocation or allocation fails, dereferencing wq->name. Reachability requires failed VKMS initialization or memory pressure to leave the workqueue unset before module unload; the bounded consequence is a guest-kernel panic.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.17%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux allows local users to panic an affected VMware guest kernel during vmwgfx module unload. vmw_vkms_cleanup() passes a NULL crc_workq to destroy_workqueue() after vmw_vkms_init() exits before allocation or allocation fails, dereferencing wq->name. Reachability requires failed VKMS initialization or memory pressure to leave the workqueue unset before module unload; the bounded consequence is a guest-kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74442
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.10
  2. Affected versionversion=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <05eaa887e7b4f40fba425f8a1d7a5a8a043092a6
  3. Affected versionversion=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <0ee0532f1d405d37f38c44cbba87342e63d3bbd4
  4. Affected versionversion=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <7c701778c6a369769992614dac8dc00c8ac72afc
  5. Affected versionversion=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <96efee36453b697ccbaf75091b7a1807c11809dd

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.10; version=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <05eaa887e7b4f40fba425f8a1d7a5a8a043092a6; version=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <0ee0532f1d405d37f38c44cbba87342e63d3bbd4; version=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <7c701778c6a369769992614dac8dc00c8ac72afc; version=7b0062036c3b71b4a69e244ecf0502c06c4cf5f0 <96efee36453b697ccbaf75091b7a1807c11809dd

Published CVSS scores

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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