CVE-2026-46098 net: caif: clear client service pointer on teardown
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel CAIF network driver allows a local attacker to cause a system crash by triggering a double free during socket teardown.
- 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-2026-46098?
CVE-2026-46098 is a medium-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:
net: caif: clear client service pointer on teardown
`caif_connect()` can tear down an existing client after remote shutdown by calling `caif_disconnect_client()` followed by `caif_free_client()`. `caif_free_client()` releases the service layer referenced by `adap_layer->dn`, but leaves that pointer stale.
When the socket is later destroyed, `caif_sock_destructor()` calls `caif_free_client()` again and dereferences the freed service pointer.
Clear the client/service links before releasing the service object so repeated teardown becomes harmless.
Weakness: CWE-476
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46098?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46098?
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-2026-46098 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46098 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-88517, BELL-CVE-2026-46098, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46098, GHSA-vfvp-r4j5-4q92, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-46098, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-46098 and 3 more.