CVE-2026-53198

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: fix use-after-free of a deferred file_lock on double SMB2_CANCEL A deferred byte-range lock (an SMB2_LOCK that blocks) registers an async work on conn->async_requests via setup_async_work(), with cancel_fn = smb2_remove_blocked_lock and cancel_argv[0] pointing at the struct file_lock. When the request is cancelled, the worker frees the file_lock with locks_free_lock() and takes the cancelled early-exit, which "goto out"s and never reaches release_async_work() -- the only site that unlinks the work from conn->async_requests and clears cancel_fn/cancel_argv. The work therefore stays matchable on async_requests with a live cancel_fn pointing at the freed file_lock, until connection teardown finally runs release_async_work(). smb2_cancel() fires cancel_fn unconditionally with no state guard, so a second SMB2_CANCEL for the same AsyncId, arriving in that window, re-runs smb2_remove_blocked_lock() on the freed file_lock -- a slab use-after-free: BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in __locks_delete_block __locks_delete_block locks_delete_block ksmbd_vfs_posix_lock_unblock smb2_remove_blocked_lock smb2_cancel <- 2nd SMB2_CANCEL fires cancel_fn handle_ksmbd_work Allocated by ...: locks_alloc_lock <- smb2_lock Freed by ...: locks_free_lock <- smb2_lock (cancelled branch) ... cache file_lock_cache of size 192 Reproduced on mainline with KASAN by an authenticated SMB client. Skip a work whose state is already KSMBD_WORK_CANCELLED so its cancel callback cannot be fired a second time.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-06-25
Last modified 2026-07-06
CVSS version 3.1
Patch available
Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

8.8

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

Weakness type

CWE-416

CVE-2026-53198 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 5.15 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.1.176, 6.6.143, 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13, 7.1 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 5.15
Fixed in
✓ 6.1.176 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.143 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.94 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.36 6.18.x ✓ 7.0.13 7.0.x ✓ 7.1

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-53198?

    CVE-2026-53198 is a High severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10 , classified as an Use After Free flaw (CWE-416) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 5.15 onward and has been patched in 6.1.176, 6.6.143, 6.12.94 and others. CVE-2026-53198 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53198?

    CVE-2026-53198 has a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10, rated High severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H .

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-53198?

    Yes. CVE-2026-53198 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.176, 6.6.143, 6.12.94 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 5.15 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-53198 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-53198 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.