Read the docs
TI-2026-33963 Aliases CVE-2026-46242GHSA-h4r8-4j67-99mx

eventpoll: fix ep_remove struct eventpoll / struct file UAF

Priority MEDIUM 43CWE-416Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
Low
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
Code execution
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
High · High · High
Fix status
Partial Red Hat: 29 fixed, 1 without a fix

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eventpoll: fix ep_remove struct eventpoll / struct file UAF ep_remove() (via ep_remove_file()) cleared file->f_ep under file->f_lock but then kept using @file inside the critical section (is_file_epoll(), hlist_del_rcu() through the head, spin_unlock). A concurrent __fput() taking the eventpoll_release() fastpath in that window observed the transient NULL, skipped eventpoll_release_file() and ran to f_op->release / file_free(). For the epoll-watches-epoll case, f_op->release is ep_eventpoll_release() -> ep_clear_and_put() -> ep_free(), which kfree()s the watched struct eventpoll. Its embedded ->refs hlist_head is exactly where epi->fllink.pprev points, so the subsequent hlist_del_rcu()'s "*pprev = next" scribbles into freed kmalloc-192 memory. In addition, struct file is SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU, so the slot backing @file could be recycled by alloc_empty_file() -- reinitializing f_lock and f_ep -- while ep_remove() is still nominally inside that lock. The upshot is an attacker-controllable kmem_cache_free() against the wrong slab cache. Pin @file via epi_fget() at the top of ep_remove() and gate the critical section on the pin succeeding. With the pin held @file cannot reach refcount zero, which holds __fput() off and transitively keeps the watched struct eventpoll alive across the hlist_del_rcu() and the f_lock use, closing both UAFs. If the pin fails @file has already reached refcount zero and its __fput() is in flight. Because we bailed before clearing f_ep, that path takes the eventpoll_release() slow path into eventpoll_release_file() and blocks on ep->mtx until the waiter side's ep_clear_and_put() drops it. The bailed epi's share of ep->refcount stays intact, so the trailing ep_refcount_dec_and_test() in ep_clear_and_put() cannot free the eventpoll out from under eventpoll_release_file(); the orphaned epi is then cleaned up there. A successful pin also proves we are not racing eventpoll_release_file() on this epi, so drop the now-redundant re-check of epi->dying under f_lock. The cheap lockless READ_ONCE(epi->dying) fast-path bailout stays.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.04576 91st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Linux (Linux): 5.15.222, 6.1.178, 6.6.144 +4Red Hat: 15 advisoriesRed Hat: 29 fixed, 1 without a fix

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
LinuxLinux5.15.209 to before 5.15.222; 6.1.175 to before 6.1.1785.15.222, 6.1.178Patch availableCNA
LinuxLinux6.4 and later5.15.222, 6.1.178, 6.6.144, 6.12.95, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1Patch availableCNA
  • Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.15.209 to before 5.15.222; 6.1.175 to before 6.1.178 Fixed in 5.15.222, 6.1.178 Patch available CNA
  • Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.4 and later Fixed in 5.15.222, 6.1.178, 6.6.144, 6.12.95, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1 Patch available CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 1

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*5.15.209 to before 5.16; 6.1.175 to before 6.2; 6.4 to before 6.18.33; 6.19 to before 7.0.10VulnerableLinux
  • cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15.209 to before 5.16; 6.1.175 to before 6.2; 6.4 to before 6.18.33; 6.19 to before 7.0.10 Vulnerable ·Linux

Remediation

  • Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.222, 6.1.178
  • Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.15.222, 6.1.178, 6.6.144, 6.12.95, 6.18.33, 7.0.10, 7.1

Red Hat 15 advisories

  • RHSA-2026:73187 Released 2026-09-29 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • NVIDIA for RHEL 10 kernel-6.12.0-259.26.el10nv, kernel-64k-6.12.0-259.26.el10nv, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-259.26.el10nv +38
  • RHSA-2026:44231 Released 2026-07-29 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.19.40 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.19 rhcos-aarch64-4.19.9.6.202607220857-0, rhcos-ppc64le-4.19.9.6.202607220857-0, rhcos-s390x-4.19.9.6.202607220857-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:44007 Released 2026-07-23 · Red Hat rating Important
    kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_116_1, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_17_1, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_39_1, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_66_1, and kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_94_1 security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_116_1-1-5.el9_6, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_17_1-1-20.el9_6, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-570_39_1-1-11.el9_6 +2
Show 12 more Red Hat advisories
  • RHSA-2026:44006 Released 2026-07-23 · Red Hat rating Important
    kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_100_1, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_113_1, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_126_1, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_68_2, and kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_84_1 security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_100_1-1-10.el9_4, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_113_1-1-8.el9_4, kpatch-patch-5_14_0-427_126_1-1-5.el9_4 +2
  • RHSA-2026:43825 Released 2026-07-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    kpatch-patch-5_14_0-687_10_1 security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kpatch-patch-5_14_0-687_10_1-1-4.el9_8
  • RHSA-2026:43826 Released 2026-07-22 · Red Hat rating Important
    kpatch-patch-6_12_0-211_16_1 security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kpatch-patch-6_12_0-211_16_1-1-4.el10_2
  • RHSA-2026:40787 Released 2026-07-21 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.20.30 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.20 rhcos-aarch64-4.20.9.6.202607151937-0, rhcos-ppc64le-4.20.9.6.202607151937-0, rhcos-s390x-4.20.9.6.202607151937-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:40779 Released 2026-07-21 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.21.25 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.21 rhcos-aarch64-4.21.9.6.202607151836-0, rhcos-ppc64le-4.21.9.6.202607151836-0, rhcos-s390x-4.21.9.6.202607151836-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:40764 Released 2026-07-21 · Red Hat rating Important
    OpenShift Container Platform 4.22.6 bug fix and security update
    • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.22 rhcos-aarch64-4.22.9.8.202607152026-0, rhcos-ppc64le-4.22.9.8.202607152026-0, rhcos-s390x-4.22.9.8.202607152026-0 +1
  • RHSA-2026:39371 Released 2026-07-14 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, libperf-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0) kernel-rt-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-55.88.1.el10_0 +11
  • RHSA-2026:38902 Released 2026-07-13 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, libperf-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6) kernel-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6) kernel-rt-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-570.127.1.el9_6 +11
  • RHSA-2026:37729 Released 2026-07-10 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +11
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4) bpftool-7.3.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-64k-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +9
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4) kernel-rt-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-427.137.1.el9_4 +11
  • RHSA-2026:36645 Released 2026-07-08 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) kernel-64k-debug-devel-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-devel-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9) kernel-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-64k-core-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8 +28
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9) kernel-tools-libs-devel-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, libperf-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-64k-core-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9) kernel-rt-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-core-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8, kernel-rt-debug-5.14.0-687.23.1.el9_8 +9
  • RHSA-2026:36541 Released 2026-07-08 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security, bug fix, and enhancement update
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10) kernel-64k-debug-devel-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-devel-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2 +12
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10) kernel-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2 +29
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10) kernel-tools-libs-devel-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, libperf-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-64k-core-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2 +21
    • Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10) kernel-rt-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-core-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2, kernel-rt-debug-6.12.0-211.31.1.el10_2 +9
  • RHSA-2026:36186 Released 2026-07-07 · Red Hat rating Important
    kernel security update
    • NVIDIA for RHEL 10 kernel-6.12.0-231.15.el10nv, kernel-64k-6.12.0-231.15.el10nv, kernel-64k-core-6.12.0-231.15.el10nv +32

Vendor assessments

Red Hat

Red Hat rating: Important. Red Hat's page for this CVE →

ProductStatusPlan or fix
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5AffectedNo fix yet
NVIDIA for RHEL 10Fixed RHSA-2026:36186, RHSA-2026:73187
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36541
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36645
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36541, RHSA-2026:43826
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36645, RHSA-2026:43825
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729, RHSA-2026:44006
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux BaseOS EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902, RHSA-2026:44007
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36541
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36645
Red Hat Enterprise Linux CodeReady Linux Builder EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36541
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36645
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 10)Fixed RHSA-2026:36541
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV (v. 9)Fixed RHSA-2026:36645
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV E4S (v.9.4)Fixed RHSA-2026:37729
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v. 10.0)Fixed RHSA-2026:39371
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Real Time for NFV EUS (v.9.6)Fixed RHSA-2026:38902
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.19Fixed RHSA-2026:44231
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.20Fixed RHSA-2026:40787
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.21Fixed RHSA-2026:40779
Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4.22Fixed RHSA-2026:40764
Not affected: 5 products
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
  • Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Timeline

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46242
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-h4r8-4j67-99mx
  3. 2026-10-03 Fix available: Linux/[email protected], Linux/Linux@a10fbbe74e1c743beb1bb312109366667461df8a · CNA
  4. 2026-10-03 1 new reference · CNA
  5. 2026-10-14 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile
  6. 2026-10-14 Priority changed: LOW → MEDIUM
  7. 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
  8. 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  9. 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
  10. 2026-10-30 Affected versions changed · Red Hat

References

  • TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
  • TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
  • TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
  • TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
See all 15278 →

Sources