Kernel compromise via pairing-command cancellation race
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Use-after-free in Linux kernel Bluetooth management allows local users to crash or compromise the kernel via concurrent pairing commands. An unlocked pending-list lookup leaves the same mgmt_pending_cmd reachable to pairing callbacks and cancel_pair_device(), allowing one racing path to free it before the other dereferences and removes it. Reaching the race requires CAP_NET_ADMIN access to the local HCI management channel and a powered Bluetooth controller; remote Bluetooth peers cannot trigger it.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in Linux kernel Bluetooth management allows local users to crash or compromise the kernel via concurrent pairing commands. An unlocked pending-list lookup leaves the same mgmt_pending_cmd reachable to pairing callbacks and cancel_pair_device(), allowing one racing path to free it before the other dereferences and removes it. Reaching the race requires CAP_NET_ADMIN access to the local HCI management channel and a powered Bluetooth controller; remote Bluetooth peers cannot trigger it.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74510
- 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=2.6.39
- Affected versionversion=e9a416b5ce0c0f93819f55d34cf6882196e9c3b2 <51be7280980fddc90ebe874a69c2fe8ab02bb46a
- Affected versionversion=e9a416b5ce0c0f93819f55d34cf6882196e9c3b2 <7c2a152a897cd1c184b2051484d4f74d803e7f4a
- Affected versionversion=e9a416b5ce0c0f93819f55d34cf6882196e9c3b2 <86ed4dd6548ccf277bc691bc912ca06e76b9d80c
- Affected versionversion=e9a416b5ce0c0f93819f55d34cf6882196e9c3b2 <c569def320aa8b1fde89227e2ea96606790fd86d
- Affected versionversion=e9a416b5ce0c0f93819f55d34cf6882196e9c3b2 <d0a7b48ad0921bd88effaee10bf970ab1d5d0ddd
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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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