# CVE-2026-53389: net/tcp-ao: fix use-after-free of key in del_async path

> A use-after-free in the Linux kernel TCP-AO implementation allows attackers to execute code or escalate privileges via crafted socket operations.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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:** Yes
- **Published:** 19 Jul 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-53389, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-53389, GHSA-x37v-hm75-xvf9, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-53389

## What is CVE-2026-53389?

CVE-2026-53389 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 Jul 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/tcp-ao: fix use-after-free of key in del_async path

In tcp_ao_delete_key(), the del_async path skips the current_key
and rnext_key validity checks present in the synchronous path,
assuming these pointers are always NULL on LISTEN sockets.  However,
if a key was added with set_current=1/set_rnext=1 while the socket
was in CLOSE state, current_key and rnext_key will be non-NULL
after listen() transitions the socket to LISTEN.

When such a key is deleted with del_async=1, hlist_del_rcu() and
call_rcu() free the key without clearing the dangling pointers.
After the RCU grace period, getsockopt(TCP_AO_INFO) dereferences
current_key->sndid and rnext_key->rcvid from freed slab memory.

Clear current_key and rnext_key in the del_async path when they
reference the key being deleted.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53389?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-53389?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-53389 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53389 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-2026-53389 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-53389 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 Jul 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53389 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-2026-53389/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53389/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-53389
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-53389
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-53389

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-53389/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.