CVE-2026-23221

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bus: fsl-mc: fix use-after-free in driver_override_show() The driver_override_show() function reads the driver_override string without holding the device_lock. However, driver_override_store() uses driver_set_override(), which modifies and frees the string while holding the device_lock. This can result in a concurrent use-after-free if the string is freed by the store function while being read by the show function. Fix this by holding the device_lock around the read operation.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-02-18
Last modified 2026-03-18
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

7.8

out of 10
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
Low
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Vector string
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2026-23221 is a Use After Free vulnerability

What is Use After Free?

The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 5.10 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.15.201, 6.1.164, 6.6.127, 6.12.74, 6.18.11, 6.19.1, 7.0 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.10
Fixed in
✓ 5.15.201 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.164 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.127 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.74 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.11 6.18.x ✓ 6.19.1 6.19.x ✓ 7.0

References

The following references provide additional information about CVE-2026-23221 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-23221?

    CVE-2026-23221 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.10 onward and has been patched in 5.15.201, 6.1.164, 6.6.127 and others. CVE-2026-23221 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-23221?

    CVE-2026-23221 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-23221?

    Yes — CVE-2026-23221 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.15.201, 6.1.164, 6.6.127 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.10 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-23221 actively exploited?

    No — CVE-2026-23221 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

  • What is Use After Free (CWE-416)?

    The product references memory after it has been freed, which may cause it to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. View CWE-416 on MITRE CWE →