What is CVE-2026-45996?

CVE-2026-45996 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 5.19 onward and patched in 6.1.176, 6.6.140, 6.12.86 and others. CVE-2026-45996 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-45996?

CVE-2026-45996 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-2026-45996?

Yes, CVE-2026-45996 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.176, 6.6.140, 6.12.86 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.19 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-45996 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-45996 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-2026-45996

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: spi: imx: fix use-after-free on unbind The SPI subsystem frees the controller and any subsystem allocated driver data as part of deregistration (unless the allocation is device managed). Take another reference before deregistering the controller so that the driver data is not freed until the driver is done with it.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-05-27

Last modified 2026-06-19

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-2026-45996 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 5.19 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.1.176, 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27, 7.0.4, 7.1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 5.19

Fixed in

✓ 6.1.176 6.1.x ✓ 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

6 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/132e47030b0b5e398e0da6c59df5a5dae9b52cff

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1c78c2002380a1fe31bfb01a3d5f29809e55a096

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/385a330083f8dd47c15b02e9a83aef9234a37003

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aa9025a498036b6012769f7af36d421385386c17

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f99165ef067723221472ce1aff632bc74f562643

Patch

Showing 5 of 6 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-45996

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-05-27

Modified 2026-06-19

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-45996?

CVE-2026-45996 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 5.19 onward and has been patched in 6.1.176, 6.6.140, 6.12.86 and others. CVE-2026-45996 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-45996?

CVE-2026-45996 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-2026-45996?

Yes. CVE-2026-45996 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.176, 6.6.140, 6.12.86 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.19 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-45996 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-45996 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.