Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc5 Audit audit_del_rule use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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Current Exploit Price (≈)
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CTI Interest Score
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7.8$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as very critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.150/6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5. This impacts the function audit_del_rule of the component Audit. Such manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-74512. The attack needs to be performed locally. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.150/6.12.102/6.18.43/7.1.7/7.2-rc5. It has been rated as very critical. Affected by this issue is the function audit_del_rule of the component Audit. 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: audit: fix potential use-after-free in audit_del_rule() `audit_del_rule()` destroys `e->rule.exe` via `audit_remove_mark_rule()` before unlinking the rule from RCU-visible filter lists and waiting for a grace period. Concurrent readers in `audit_filter()` and `audit_filter_rules()` still dereference `e->rule.exe`, while the fsnotify mark can be freed on an independent lifetime path. This creates a use-after-free window during rule deletion. Fix this by unlinking the rule from the RCU-visible lists and invoking `synchronize_rcu()` before calling `audit_remove_mark_rule()` (and other rule removal helpers). This ensures that all existing RCU readers have exited the critical section before any underlying resources are destroyed.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-74512 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.6.151, 6.12.103, 6.18.44, 7.1.8 or 7.2-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 45bf3df5b32e5a49953e7ceabc55f7dd85380e46/78bde7e9bd36eaae1b8e8cfcd47f12a34f301dbf/cae0dfed5d307b240bff71c3cf206652d1b6f215/5b8f46864f06d6dbacb7dcea52bc084dfd122638/246df90b5f1a8a6e6abbd2f058b029558720adec is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.8

VulDB Base Score: 8.2
VulDB Temp Score: 7.8
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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
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 6.6.151/6.12.103/6.18.44/7.1.8/7.2-rc6
Patch: 45bf3df5b32e5a49953e7ceabc55f7dd85380e46/78bde7e9bd36eaae1b8e8cfcd47f12a34f301dbf/cae0dfed5d307b240bff71c3cf206652d1b6f215/5b8f46864f06d6dbacb7dcea52bc084dfd122638/246df90b5f1a8a6e6abbd2f058b029558720adec

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
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-2026-74512 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74512
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390806

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 15:19
Changes: 08/15/2026 15:19 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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