# CVE-2026-53175: inet: frags: fix use-after-free caused by the fqdir_pre_exit() flush

> A use-after-free in Linux kernel IP fragment reassembly allows attackers to execute code or escalate privileges during network namespace teardown.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 1 Sep 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-53175, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53175, GHSA-j4jv-fp59-574f, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-53175

## What is CVE-2026-53175?

CVE-2026-53175 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

inet: frags: fix use-after-free caused by the fqdir_pre_exit() flush

On netns teardown, fqdir_pre_exit() walks the fqdir rhashtable and
flushes every fragment queue that is not yet complete using
inet_frag_queue_flush(). That helper frees all the skbs queued on the
fragment queue but does not set INET_FRAG_COMPLETE, and leaves
q->fragments_tail and q->last_run_head pointing at the freed skbs.
The queue itself stays in the rhashtable.

fqdir_pre_exit() first lowers high_thresh to 0 to stop new queue lookups,
but it cannot stop a fragment that already obtained the queue through
inet_frag_find() earlier and stalled just before taking the queue lock.
Once that fragment resumes after the flush and takes the queue lock,
it passes the INET_FRAG_COMPLETE check and then dereferences the freed
fragments_tail. inet_frag_queue_insert() reads FRAG_CB() and ->len of
that pointer and, on the append path, writes ->next_frag, causing a
slab use-after-free. IPv6, nf_conntrack_reasm6 and 6lowpan reassembly
share the same flush path and are affected as well.

Reset rb_fragments, fragments_tail and last_run_head in
inet_frag_queue_flush() so a flushed queue no longer points at the
freed skbs. A fragment that resumes after the flush and takes the
queue lock then finds an empty queue and starts a new run instead of
dereferencing the freed fragments_tail. ip_frag_reinit() already
performed this reset after its own flush, so drop the now duplicate
code there.

Weakness: CWE-825 (Expired Pointer Dereference), CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53175?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-53175?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-53175 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53175 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel

- [CVE-2026-53266](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53266/): Linux Kernel Out-of-Bounds Write (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-6282](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-6282/): Linux Kernel Improper Input Validation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-0185](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-0185/): Linux Kernel Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2013-2094](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2013-2094/): Linux Kernel Privilege Escalation (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2026-53362](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53362/): Linux Kernel Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-53175 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-53175 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 25 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53175 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux kernel. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53175/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53175/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53175
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53175
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53175

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53175/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.