What is CVE-2026-45989?

CVE-2026-45989 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, classified as a Use After Free flaw (CWE-416), affecting Linux kernel versions from 6.6 onward and patched in 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27 and others. CVE-2026-45989 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-45989?

CVE-2026-45989 has a CVSS score of 7.8 out of 10, rated High severity. 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-2026-45989?

Yes, CVE-2026-45989 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.6 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-45989 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-45989 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-2026-45989

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: of: unittest: fix use-after-free in testdrv_probe() The function testdrv_probe() retrieves the device_node from the PCI device, applies an overlay, and then immediately calls of_node_put(dn). This releases the reference held by the PCI core, potentially freeing the node if the reference count drops to zero. Later, the same freed pointer 'dn' is passed to of_platform_default_populate(), leading to a use-after-free. The reference to pdev->dev.of_node is owned by the device model and should not be released by the driver. Remove the erroneous of_node_put() to prevent premature freeing.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-05-27

Last modified 2026-06-16

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-2026-45989 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 6.6 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27, 7.0.4, 7.1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.6

Fixed in

✓ 6.6.140 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.86 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.27 6.18.x ✓ 7.0.4 7.0.x ✓ 7.1

References

5 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/07fd339b2c253205794bea5d9b4b7548a4546c56

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0ba03e06f037df704d9b032e36d417633e2326bc

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b6122a67a295f8a08b7c18d908a1bd974dfaec8

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6b2023286d2c6ed3bf964fb92e34c9c14d42eb69

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d68347b07b9801791c9eaab8f772770b52b8cd5c

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-45989

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-05-27

Modified 2026-06-16

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-45989?

CVE-2026-45989 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 6.6 onward and has been patched in 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27 and others. CVE-2026-45989 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-45989?

CVE-2026-45989 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-2026-45989?

Yes. CVE-2026-45989 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.6 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-45989 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-45989 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.