CVE-2026-46208 batman-adv: stop tp_meter sessions during mesh teardown
Attackers can trigger a use-after-free in the Linux kernel's batman-adv module during mesh teardown, potentially causing crashes or code execution.
- 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-2026-46208?
CVE-2026-46208 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 28 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:
batman-adv: stop tp_meter sessions during mesh teardown
TP meter sessions remain linked on bat_priv->tp_list after the netlink request has already finished. When the mesh interface is removed, batadv_mesh_free() currently tears down the mesh without first draining these sessions.
A running sender thread or a late incoming tp_meter packet can then keep processing against a mesh instance which is already shutting down. Synchronize tp_meter with the mesh lifetime by stopping all active sessions from batadv_mesh_free() and waiting for sender threads to exit before teardown continues.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-46208?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46208?
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-2026-46208 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-46208 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as AZL-88839, BELL-CVE-2026-46208, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46208, GHSA-jpxw-c2j5-6fpx, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-11-CVE-2026-46208, ROOT-OS-DEBIAN-12-CVE-2026-46208 and 3 more.