What is CVE-2026-45972?

CVE-2026-45972 is a Critical severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416), affecting Linux kernel versions from 6.1.163 onward and patched in 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75 and others. CVE-2026-45972 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-45972?

CVE-2026-45972 has a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, rated Critical severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-45972?

Yes, CVE-2026-45972 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.1.163 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-45972 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-45972 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA 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. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/416.html

CVE-2026-45972

Critical

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb: client: fix potential UAF and double free in smb2_open_file() Zero out @err_iov and @err_buftype before retrying SMB2_open() to prevent an UAF bug if @data != NULL, otherwise a double free.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-05-27

Last modified 2026-07-15

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

9.8

out of 10

Critical

Attack Vector

Network

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

None

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2026-45972 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 6.1.163, 6.6.124, 6.12.70, 6.18.10, 6.19 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.1.163 ≥ 6.6.124 ≥ 6.12.70 ≥ 6.18.10 ≥ 6.19

Fixed in

✓ 6.1.165 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.128 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.75 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.14 6.18.x ✓ 6.19.4 6.19.x ✓ 7.0

References

9 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d339b219004869e96c4ce56b8891f83a38da4c0

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/639deb962986ef2f5e2a6d5a600c66f922471e81

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7425453ea16dbc3bbb0f6cac4d60b537e5e4d151

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/96e53bb3ee2f354cf6b4ab07bcc56e500f8b3f74

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e66dcf7bb9c4df5582c82bc3582725abcbfbea73

Patch

Showing 5 of 9 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-45972

Severity Critical

CVSS score 9.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-05-27

Modified 2026-07-15

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-45972?

CVE-2026-45972 is a Critical severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.1.163 onward and has been patched in 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75 and others. CVE-2026-45972 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-45972?

CVE-2026-45972 has a CVSS score of 9.8 out of 10, rated Critical severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-45972?

Yes. CVE-2026-45972 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.1.163 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-45972 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-45972 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.