CVE-2026-74731

Local privilege escalation via sub-scheduler teardown race

Published Aug 22, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux kernel 7.1 sched_ext allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory via a scheduler teardown race. If a never-linked sub-scheduler enable fails during root disable, scx_sub_disable() walks tasks after teardown and re-homes them onto a freed hierarchy. Reaching the race requires CAP_BPF and concurrent scheduler attachment and root-link closure; exploitation grants kernel-level code execution or crashes the host.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.12%
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 Linux kernel 7.1 sched_ext allows local users to disclose or corrupt kernel memory via a scheduler teardown race. If a never-linked sub-scheduler enable fails during root disable, scx_sub_disable() walks tasks after teardown and re-homes them onto a freed hierarchy. Reaching the race requires CAP_BPF and concurrent scheduler attachment and root-link closure; exploitation grants kernel-level code execution or crashes the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74731
Published
Aug 22, 2026
Updated
Aug 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-362, CWE-416, 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=337ec00b1d9c676f637651c2cefddb8612b867ee <6428093a4a986c38c9089b5eb32b56d914ef437a
  2. Affected versionversion=337ec00b1d9c676f637651c2cefddb8612b867ee <8c13364db9c9a43ed286f3a8d0fb9477b1adc43c
  3. Affected versionversion=7.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=337ec00b1d9c676f637651c2cefddb8612b867ee <6428093a4a986c38c9089b5eb32b56d914ef437a; version=337ec00b1d9c676f637651c2cefddb8612b867ee <8c13364db9c9a43ed286f3a8d0fb9477b1adc43c; version=7.1

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization
CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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