CVE-2026-74486

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: binfmt_misc: use exe_file_deny_write_access() for the interpreter clone For MISC_FMT_OPEN_FILE entries load_misc_binary() clones the registered interpreter file and denies write access to the clone via plain deny_write_access(). The clone is installed as bprm->interpreter and later released by the exec machinery through exe_file_allow_write_access() which skips the i_writecount increment for files with FMODE_FSNOTIFY_HSM set. The deny and allow side can therefore come to different conclusions when pre-content watches are in play: if a pre-content watch is added to the interpreter after registration every subsequent exec through that entry takes a write denial on the clone that is never paired with a write allowance, driving the interpreter inode's i_writecount further down with each exec and leaving the interpreter unwritable even after the entry and all its users are gone. Take the write denial via exe_file_deny_write_access() so both sides of the pairing base their decision on the same file mode, and propagate failure instead of silently ignoring it: an interpreter that is concurrently open for writing now fails the exec with ETXTBSY, exactly like an interpreter freshly opened via open_exec() would.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-08-15
Last modified 2026-08-23
Patch available
Yes

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.14 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.18.44, 7.1.8, 7.2 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.14
Fixed in
✓ 6.18.44 6.18.x ✓ 7.1.8 7.1.x ✓ 7.2

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-74486?

    CVE-2026-74486 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.14 onward and has been patched in 6.18.44, 7.1.8 and 7.2. CVE-2026-74486 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-74486?

    Yes. CVE-2026-74486 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.18.44, 7.1.8 and 7.2. If you are running Linux kernel 6.14 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-74486 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-74486 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.