Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 bcm bcm_delete_rx_op sk use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 and classified as very critical. This impacts the function bcm_delete_rx_op of the component bcm. Executing a manipulation of the argument sk can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-72123. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. No exploit is available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3. This vulnerability affects the function bcm_delete_rx_op of the component bcm. The manipulation of the argument sk with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: can: bcm: defer rx_op deallocation to workqueue to fix thrtimer UAF Commit f1b4e32aca08 ("can: bcm: use call_rcu() instead of costly synchronize_rcu()") replaced synchronize_rcu() in bcm_delete_rx_op() with call_rcu() and introduced the RX_NO_AUTOTIMER flag. However, this flag check was omitted for thrtimer in the packet rx fast-path. During BCM RX operation teardown, a concurrent RCU reader (bcm_rx_handler) can race and re-arm thrtimer via bcm_rx_update_and_send() after call_rcu() has been scheduled. Once the RCU grace period elapses, bcm_op is freed. The subsequently firing thrtimer then dereferences the deallocated op, causing a UAF. Adding flag checks to the rx fast-path (bcm_rx_update_and_send) does not fully close the TOCTOU race and introduces latency for every CAN frame. Conversely, calling hrtimer_cancel() directly inside the RCU callback (softirq context) is fatal as hrtimer_cancel() can sleep, triggering a "scheduling while atomic" panic. Resolve this by deferring the timer cancellation and memory free to a dedicated unbound workqueue (bcm_wq). The RCU callback now queues a work item to bcm_wq, which safely cancels both timers and deallocates memory in sleepable process context. A dedicated workqueue is used to prevent system-wide WQ saturation and is cleanly flushed/destroyed on module unload to avoid rmmod page faults. Since the deferred work can now outlive the calling context by an unbounded amount, also take a reference on op->sk when it is assigned and drop it only once the deferred work has cancelled both timers, so a socket can no longer be freed out from under a still-armed timer whose callback (bcm_send_to_user()) dereferences op->sk.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-72123 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3cf4fd5316f449811d8baf1bc6978ef5a7b743a9/4177762f70646ac48a2af382e45a795cbd295198/6fd08e8d826c3aa4cc7021f5f9cdbb7fa7441d3f/cd830e0bc25ee2d38cbfbdbb3cd77c5f53b2b6d5/ce2d4b121fb7545e1ed588e860c8e5fd5ad45224/68973f9db76144825e4f35dfdc80fb8279eb2d57 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
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

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc4
Patch: 3cf4fd5316f449811d8baf1bc6978ef5a7b743a9/4177762f70646ac48a2af382e45a795cbd295198/6fd08e8d826c3aa4cc7021f5f9cdbb7fa7441d3f/cd830e0bc25ee2d38cbfbdbb3cd77c5f53b2b6d5/ce2d4b121fb7545e1ed588e860c8e5fd5ad45224/68973f9db76144825e4f35dfdc80fb8279eb2d57

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-72123 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72123
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390520

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 12:15
Changes: 08/15/2026 12:15 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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