UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46242: High severity ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eventpoll: fix epremove struct eventpoll / struct file UAF epremove() (via epremovefile()) cleared file->fep under file->flock but then kept using @file inside the critical section (isfileepoll(), hlistdelrcu() through the head, spinunlock). A concurrent fput() taking the eventpollrelease() fastpath in that window observed the transient NULL, skipped eventpollreleasefile() and ran to fop->release / filefree(). For the epoll-watches-epoll case, fop->release is epeventpollrelease() -> epclearandput() -> epfree(), which kfree()s the watched struct eventpoll. Its embedded ->refs hlisthead is exactly where epi->fllink.pprev points, so the subsequent hlistdelrcu()'s "pprev = next" scribbles into freed kmalloc-192 memory. In addition, struct file is SLABTYPESAFEBYRCU, so the slot backing @file could be recycled by allocemptyfile() -- reinitializing flock and fep -- while epremove() is still nominally inside that lock. The upshot is an attacker-controllable kmemcachefree() against the wrong slab cache. Pin @file via epifget() at the top of epremove() 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 hlistdelrcu() and the flock 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 fep, that path takes the eventpollrelease() slow path into eventpollreleasefile() and blocks on ep->mtx until the waiter side's epclearandput() drops it. The bailed epi's share of ep->refcount stays intact, so the trailing eprefcountdecandtest() in epclearandput() cannot free the eventpoll out from under eventpollreleasefile(); the orphaned epi is then cleaned up there. A successful pin also proves we are not racing eventpollreleasefile() on this epi, so drop the now-redundant re-check of epi->dying under flock. The cheap lockless READONCE(epi->dying) fast-path bailout stays.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
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ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1124.133~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-197.207~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.122~20.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117~20.04.2 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.65~22.04.2 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1124.133 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.70~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1065.73~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1115.121 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1102.110 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-138.138~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.117 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.63~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iotgto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-kvmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.116 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-197.207 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-137.137.1~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.115 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1070.72 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1059.59 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.122 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-137.137~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1103.105 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.127 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1057.58~22.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1119.126+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1125.134+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-202.212+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 5.15.0-1120.130+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-137.137 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.65 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1022.22 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.70 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1065.73 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1022.25 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.68 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gkeopto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1047.51 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-42.42 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-28.28~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.63 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-137.137.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1031.31 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatencyto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegrato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1031.32 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1032.32 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1020.20 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.66 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-28.28.1~24.04.3 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-xilinxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1034.35 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-bluefieldto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1028.33 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-2051.53 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.1-1057.58 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.17.0-1019.22 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-aws-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.65+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-137.137+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcp-fipsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.8.0-1065.73+fips1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-28.28 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1009.9 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azureto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1010.10 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-azure-fdeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1009.9 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1008.8 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-gketo a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1003.4 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1010.10 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidiato a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bosto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-2016.16 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1009.9 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1008.8 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-raspito a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-realtimeto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-28.28.1 - Upgrade
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ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-28.28.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Ubuntu kernel package families are identified as affected?
The listed Ubuntu kernel package families are linux, linux-aws, linux-azure, linux-azure-fde, linux-gcp, linux-gke, linux-realtime, and linux-riscv. The provided data does not specify affected or fixed package versions.
What runtime condition is involved in triggering the race?
The race involves ep_remove() operating on a file while a concurrent __fput() takes the eventpoll_release() fast path. The described corruption case specifically involves an epoll instance watching another epoll instance.
What is the security impact described for successful exploitation?
The stale epoll list operation can write through a pointer into freed kmalloc-192 memory after the watched eventpoll object is freed. The description states that this can result in an attacker-controllable kmem_cache_free() against the wrong slab cache.