# CVE-2026-23158: gpio: virtuser: fix UAF in configfs release path

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's gpio-virtuser module allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges via configfs release path.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 14 Feb 2026
- **Updated:** 11 May 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-23158, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23158, GHSA-q8wj-qfj9-vjfp, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23158

## What is CVE-2026-23158?

CVE-2026-23158 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 14 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

gpio: virtuser: fix UAF in configfs release path

The gpio-virtuser configfs release path uses guard(mutex) to protect
the device structure. However, the device is freed before the guard
cleanup runs, causing mutex_unlock() to operate on freed memory.

Specifically, gpio_virtuser_device_config_group_release() destroys
the mutex and frees the device while still inside the guard(mutex)
scope. When the function returns, the guard cleanup invokes
mutex_unlock(&dev->lock), resulting in a slab use-after-free.

Limit the mutex lifetime by using a scoped_guard() only around the
activation check, so that the lock is released before mutex_destroy()
and kfree() are called.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-23158?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-23158?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-23158 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23158 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-23158 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-23158 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 14 Feb 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23158 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23158/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23158/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23158
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23158
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-23158

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-23158/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.