Linux Kernel up to 7.1.2 exfat exfat_find_dir_entry ep use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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8.0$5k-$25k0.72

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.2. It has been classified as very critical. This impacts the function exfat_find_dir_entry of the component exfat. The manipulation of the argument ep leads to use after free. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-63808. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.2 and classified as very critical. This issue affects the function exfat_find_dir_entry of the component exfat. The manipulation of the argument ep 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. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: exfat: fix potential use-after-free in exfat_find_dir_entry() In exfat_find_dir_entry(), the buffer_head obtained from exfat_get_dentry() is released with brelse(bh) before the fall-through TYPE_EXTEND branch reads the directory entry through ep (which points into bh->b_data): brelse(bh); if (entry_type == TYPE_EXTEND) { ... len = exfat_extract_uni_name(ep, entry_uniname); ... } After brelse() drops our reference, nothing guarantees that the underlying page backing bh->b_data remains valid for the subsequent exfat_extract_uni_name() read. This is the same pattern fixed in commit fc961522ddbd ("exfat: Fix potential use after free in exfat_load_upcase_table()"). Move brelse(bh) so it runs after ep is no longer dereferenced on each branch. Confirmed on QEMU x86_64 with CONFIG_KASAN=y + CONFIG_DEBUG_PAGEALLOC=y + CONFIG_PAGE_POISONING=y on linux-next, using a crafted exFAT image (long filename with same-hash collisions forcing the TYPE_EXTEND path). With a debug-only invalidate_bdev() inserted between brelse(bh) and the ep read to make the stale-deref window deterministic, the unpatched kernel faults: BUG: KASAN: use-after-free in exfat_find_dir_entry+0x133b/0x15a0 BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffff88801a5fa0c2 Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP DEBUG_PAGEALLOC KASAN NOPTI RIP: 0010:exfat_find_dir_entry+0x1188/0x15a0 With this patch applied, the same instrumented harness completes cleanly under the same sanitizer stack. I have not reproduced a crash on an uninstrumented kernel under ordinary reclaim; the instrumented A/B establishes the lifetime violation and that the patch closes it, not an unaided triggerability claim.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-63808 since 07/19/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. Additional levels of successful authentication are required for exploitation. It demands that the victim is doing some kind of user interaction. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/20/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 327889 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-63808), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 5.10.260, 5.15.211, 6.1.177, 6.6.144, 6.12.95, 6.18.38, 7.1.3 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (327889) and EUVD (EUVD-2026-45474). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 8.0

VulDB Base Score: 8.4
VulDB Temp Score: 8.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 327889
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-63808

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: no mitigation known
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.260/5.15.211/6.1.177/6.6.144/6.12.95/6.18.38/7.1.3/7.2-rc1

Timelineinfo

07/19/2026 Advisory disclosed
07/19/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
07/19/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
07/20/2026 +1 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-63808 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-63808
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-380147
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 07/19/2026 16:06
Updated: 07/20/2026 07:15
Changes: 07/19/2026 16:06 (56), 07/19/2026 17:04 (1), 07/20/2026 07:15 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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