Kernel crash via completion-queue use-after-free
Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 18, 2026
Use-after-free in SMB Direct in Linux 7.1 through 7.2.5 allows remote attackers to crash the kernel during queue-pair teardown. smbdirect_connection_destroy_qp() frees completion queues with ib_destroy_cq() without canceling pending poll work, so a late provider completion requeues ib_cq_poll_work() against freed memory. Exploitation requires the SMB Direct path and a late RDMA provider completion; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel fault and service interruption.
Summary
What happened
Use-after-free in SMB Direct in Linux 7.1 through 7.2.5 allows remote attackers to crash the kernel during queue-pair teardown. smbdirect_connection_destroy_qp() frees completion queues with ib_destroy_cq() without canceling pending poll work, so a late provider completion requeues ib_cq_poll_work() against freed memory. Exploitation requires the SMB Direct path and a late RDMA provider completion; the demonstrated consequence is a kernel fault and service interruption.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-90173
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=6073eb3e31756d569c4853fb22724525739d0e0c <8a953b1a47fffb71e70767bc1e914401e3c2f27f
- Affected versionversion=6073eb3e31756d569c4853fb22724525739d0e0c <fe2c0cacbcff9d56c03b296f68f22151c4223b04
- Affected versionversion=7.1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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Technologies
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