What is CVE-2026-52973?

CVE-2026-52973 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 6.17 onward and patched in 6.18.33, 7.0.10 and 7.1. CVE-2026-52973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-52973?

CVE-2026-52973 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-2026-52973?

Yes, CVE-2026-52973 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.33, 7.0.10 and 7.1. If you are running Linux kernel 6.17 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-52973 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-52973 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-2026-52973

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: futex: Drop CLONE_THREAD requirement for private default hash alloc Currently need_futex_hash_allocate_default() depends on strict pthread semantics, abusing CLONE_THREAD. This breaks the non-concurrency assumptions when doing the mm->futex_ref pcpu allocations, leading to bugs[0] when sharing the mm in other ways; ie: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in futex_hash_put ... where the +1 bias can end up on a percpu counter that mm->futex_ref no longer points at. Loosen the check to cover any CLONE_VM clone, except vfork(). Excluding vfork keeps the existing paths untouched (no overhead), and we can't race in the first place: either the parent is suspended and the child runs alone, or mm->futex_ref is already allocated from an earlier CLONE_VM.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-06-24

Last modified 2026-07-29

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-2026-52973 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 6.17 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.17

Fixed in

✓ 6.18.33 6.18.x ✓ 7.0.10 7.0.x ✓ 7.1

References

8 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1dcd36420af2da5bd59306dba9caf78e3d248b1d

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/974ac49a9a068b0591a59f65c63eb06579a13091

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee9dce44362b2d8132c32964656ab6dff7dfbc6a

Patch
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:45114
Red Hat
https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:47040

Showing 5 of 8 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-52973

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-06-24

Modified 2026-07-29

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-52973?

CVE-2026-52973 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 6.17 onward and has been patched in 6.18.33, 7.0.10 and 7.1. CVE-2026-52973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-52973?

CVE-2026-52973 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-2026-52973?

Yes. CVE-2026-52973 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.33, 7.0.10 and 7.1. If you are running Linux kernel 6.17 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-52973 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-52973 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.