CVE-2026-23226 ksmbd: add chann_lock to protect ksmbd_chann_list xarray
A race condition in the Linux kernel's ksmbd module allows use-after-free, potentially enabling code execution or privilege escalation.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-23226?
CVE-2026-23226 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 18 Feb 2026. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ksmbd: add chann_lock to protect ksmbd_chann_list xarray
ksmbd_chann_list xarray lacks synchronization, allowing use-after-free in multi-channel sessions (between lookup_chann_list() and ksmbd_chann_del).
Adds rw_semaphore chann_lock to struct ksmbd_session and protects all xa_load/xa_store/xa_erase accesses.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-23226?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-23226?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-23226 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-23226 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-23226, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23226, GHSA-5jgq-pv8m-5cx7, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-23226, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-13-CVE-2026-23226, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2026-23226 and 2 more.