Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3 Bluetooth hci_user_passkey_notify_evt use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3. Affected is the function hci_user_passkey_notify_evt of the component Bluetooth. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-46056. The attack can only be initiated within the local network. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function hci_user_passkey_notify_evt of the component Bluetooth. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_event: fix potential UAF in SSP passkey handlers hci_conn lookup and field access must be covered by hdev lock in hci_user_passkey_notify_evt() and hci_keypress_notify_evt(), otherwise the connection can be freed concurrently. Extend the hci_dev_lock critical section to cover all conn usage in both handlers. Keep the existing keypress notification behavior unchanged by routing the early exits through a common unlock path.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-46056 since 05/13/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack can only be done within the local network. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 06/17/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 321269 (RHEL 8 : kernel-rt (RHSA-2026:26428)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27, 7.0.4 or 7.1-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 204028af77a265e31ceb4ba7f643349a3cca72b2/01a6431766c35dfedb86e0cb5d3fc80c6d604a47/e08d75753db17aa943d7622f09d9c217b5bfd3b8/8c6443bb9257b780986fb67ec08565bf48ecb8d7/85fa3512048793076eef658f66489112dcc91993 is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (321269). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.139
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
• 6.12.52
• 6.12.53
• 6.12.54
• 6.12.55
• 6.12.56
• 6.12.57
• 6.12.58
• 6.12.59
• 6.12.60
• 6.12.61
• 6.12.62
• 6.12.63
• 6.12.64
• 6.12.65
• 6.12.66
• 6.12.67
• 6.12.68
• 6.12.69
• 6.12.70
• 6.12.71
• 6.12.72
• 6.12.73
• 6.12.74
• 6.12.75
• 6.12.76
• 6.12.77
• 6.12.78
• 6.12.79
• 6.12.80
• 6.12.81
• 6.12.82
• 6.12.83
• 6.12.84
• 6.12.85
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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