What is CVE-2026-53389?

CVE-2026-53389 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 6.7 onward and patched in 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.1.3 and others. CVE-2026-53389 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53389?

CVE-2026-53389 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-2026-53389?

Yes, CVE-2026-53389 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.1.3 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.7 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-53389 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-53389 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-2026-53389

High

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/tcp-ao: fix use-after-free of key in del_async path In tcp_ao_delete_key(), the del_async path skips the current_key and rnext_key validity checks present in the synchronous path, assuming these pointers are always NULL on LISTEN sockets. However, if a key was added with set_current=1/set_rnext=1 while the socket was in CLOSE state, current_key and rnext_key will be non-NULL after listen() transitions the socket to LISTEN. When such a key is deleted with del_async=1, hlist_del_rcu() and call_rcu() free the key without clearing the dangling pointers. After the RCU grace period, getsockopt(TCP_AO_INFO) dereferences current_key->sndid and rnext_key->rcvid from freed slab memory. Clear current_key and rnext_key in the del_async path when they reference the key being deleted.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-07-19

Last modified 2026-08-17

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-2026-53389 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 6.7 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.1.3, 7.2 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 6.7

Fixed in

✓ 6.12.95 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.38 6.18.x ✓ 7.1.3 7.1.x ✓ 7.2

References

4 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5ba9950bc9078e19b69cca1e56d1553b125c6857

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6ce7ef41743740ce15c2061561b784148b565b3f

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7ddc29a094d96e9b3aa280433c6dc443df9eabf2

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e77fbefd1269b5c123e7c651a1ebdce1b87d19a0

Patch

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-53389

Severity High

CVSS score 7.8 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-07-19

Modified 2026-08-17

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-53389?

CVE-2026-53389 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 6.7 onward and has been patched in 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.1.3 and others. CVE-2026-53389 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-53389?

CVE-2026-53389 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-2026-53389?

Yes. CVE-2026-53389 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.1.3 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.7 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-53389 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-53389 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.