CVE-2026-43328 cpufreq: governor: fix double free in cpufreq_dbs_governor_init() error path
A double free vulnerability in the Linux kernel cpufreq governor allows local attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges.
- 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
What is CVE-2026-43328?
CVE-2026-43328 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 8 May 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:
cpufreq: governor: fix double free in cpufreq_dbs_governor_init() error path
When kobject_init_and_add() fails, cpufreq_dbs_governor_init() calls kobject_put(&dbs_data->attr_set.kobj).
The kobject release callback cpufreq_dbs_data_release() calls gov->exit(dbs_data) and kfree(dbs_data), but the current error path then calls gov->exit(dbs_data) and kfree(dbs_data) again, causing a double free.
Keep the direct kfree(dbs_data) for the gov->init() failure path, but after kobject_init_and_add() has been called, let kobject_put() handle the cleanup through cpufreq_dbs_data_release().
Weakness: CWE-415
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-43328?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-43328?
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-2026-43328 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-43328 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-43328, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43328, GHSA-jm8j-3fg5-f3c9, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-43328, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2204-CVE-2026-43328, ROOT-OS-UBUNTU-2404-CVE-2026-43328 and 1 more.