Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3 sunrpc __rpc_clnt_handle_event pipefs_sb use after free

| CVSS Meta Temp Score | Current Exploit Price (≈) | CTI Interest Score |
|---|---|---|
| 9.5 | $5k-$25k | 0.00+ |
Summary
A vulnerability identified as very critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3. The affected element is the function __rpc_clnt_handle_event of the component sunrpc. This manipulation of the argument pipefs_sb causes use after free.
The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-89543. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available.
You should upgrade the affected component.
Details
A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3. Affected by this vulnerability is the function __rpc_clnt_handle_event of the component sunrpc. The manipulation of the argument pipefs_sb 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. The summary by CVE is:
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sunrpc: fix use-after-free in __rpc_clnt_handle_event and __rpc_clnt_remove_pipedir Normal client creation goes through rpc_setup_pipedir(), which records clnt->pipefs_sb, but the mount-event path in __rpc_clnt_handle_event() calls rpc_setup_pipedir_sb() directly and never refreshes that field. The umount path also removes the directory without clearing clnt->pipefs_sb. After a late pipefs mount or any remount, rpc_clnt_remove_pipedir() compares the current superblock against a stale pipefs_sb pointer and skips cleanup, leaving pipefs dentries whose inode private data still points at a freed rpc_clnt, leading to a potential use-after-free during subsequent rpc_info_open() or rpc_show_info() calls. Fix this by properly updating clnt->pipefs_sb upon mount events and clearing it during unmount or failure paths.
It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-89543 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. 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 09/12/2026).
Upgrading to version 6.18.50, 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e769fcde3cc73e847b1eb3acd40c04a291cb0c0c/cdf7a233cb94774b0e7df42d9157077983f5022c/932a8cf6abb2b2f8677b79153a823108d8861fe2 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Product
Type
Vendor
Name
Version
- 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
- 6.18.27
- 6.18.28
- 6.18.29
- 6.18.30
- 6.18.31
- 6.18.32
- 6.18.33
- 6.18.34
- 6.18.35
- 6.18.36
- 6.18.37
- 6.18.38
- 6.18.39
- 6.18.40
- 6.18.41
- 6.18.42
- 6.18.43
- 6.18.44
- 6.18.45
- 6.18.46
- 6.18.47
- 6.18.48
- 6.18.49
- 7.2.0
- 7.2.1
- 7.2.2
- 7.2.3
License
Website
- Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/
CPE 2.3
CPE 2.2
CVSSv4
VulDB Vector: 🔒VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv3
VulDB Meta Base Score: 9.9VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Base Score: 9.9
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2
| AV | AC | Au | C | I | A |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 | 💳 |
| Vector | Complexity | Authentication | Confidentiality | Integrity | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
| Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploiting
Class: Use after freeCWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
| 0-Day | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock | Unlock |
Threat Intelligence
Interest: 🔍Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasures
Recommended: UpgradeStatus: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.50/7.2.4/7.3-rc1
Patch: e769fcde3cc73e847b1eb3acd40c04a291cb0c0c/cdf7a233cb94774b0e7df42d9157077983f5022c/932a8cf6abb2b2f8677b79153a823108d8861fe2
Timeline
09/11/2026 CVE reserved09/11/2026 VulDB entry created
09/12/2026 Advisory disclosed
09/12/2026 VulDB entry last update
Sources
Vendor: kernel.orgAdvisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-89543 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-89543
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-402859
Entry
Created: 09/12/2026 01:13Changes: 09/12/2026 01:13 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
No comments yet. Languages: en.
Please log in to comment.