CVE-2026-45951 bpf: Fix a potential use-after-free of BTF object

What is CVE-2026-45951?

CVE-2026-45951 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 27 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:

bpf: Fix a potential use-after-free of BTF object

Refcounting in the check_pseudo_btf_id() function is incorrect: the __check_pseudo_btf_id() function might get called with a zero refcounted btf. Fix this, and patch related code accordingly.

v3: rephrase a comment (AI) v2: fix a refcount leak introduced in v1 (AI)

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-45951?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2026-45951?

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-2026-45951 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-45951 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

• CVE-2026-53266 Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2013-6282 Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2022-0185 Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2013-2094 Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2026-53362 Linux Kernel Unspecified Exploited High 7.8

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-45951, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-45951, GHSA-gr6f-x92j-c7m6, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-45951.