CVE-2026-74661

Kernel memory compromise via beacon-worker use-after-free

Published Aug 22, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026

Use-after-free in the mac802154 beacon worker in Linux 6.3 allows local users to compromise kernel memory during interface teardown. mac802154_beacon_worker() drops its RCU read lock without pinning the netdev, while mac802154_stop_beacons_locked() can clear the request and free the netdev private area that the running worker still dereferences. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access, the mac802154 subsystem, and a teardown race; successful access can affect kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
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 the mac802154 beacon worker in Linux 6.3 allows local users to compromise kernel memory during interface teardown. mac802154_beacon_worker() drops its RCU read lock without pinning the netdev, while mac802154_stop_beacons_locked() can clear the request and free the netdev private area that the running worker still dereferences. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access, the mac802154 subsystem, and a teardown race; successful access can affect kernel confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74661
Published
Aug 22, 2026
Updated
Aug 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 25, 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=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <5f26a690e8efa54315e4922368daf54e0b8f5515
  2. Affected versionversion=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <9d067e581597c462c51fee8a30b51bc48a68c4e1
  3. Affected versionversion=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <e5fb0e03bc7f45508c182a427357bf6b389a9033
  4. Affected versionversion=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <e6cd416a899edc912b428c4ba399bd73f516cb31
  5. Affected versionversion=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <fe820dcc1d8ff77783a9d2bcc93b98c99ac6d517
  6. Affected versionversion=6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <5f26a690e8efa54315e4922368daf54e0b8f5515; version=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <9d067e581597c462c51fee8a30b51bc48a68c4e1; version=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <e5fb0e03bc7f45508c182a427357bf6b389a9033; version=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <e6cd416a899edc912b428c4ba399bd73f516cb31; version=3accf4762734a69ebd03cba989249c78ac7dfc7e <fe820dcc1d8ff77783a9d2bcc93b98c99ac6d517; version=6.3

Published CVSS scores

7.0Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.0Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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

T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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