CVE-2026-64016 ksmbd: fix durable reconnect error path file lifetime

Critical 9.8 Published Updated

A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ksmbd SMB server allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges via a durable reconnect error path.

Exploited in the wild
Not known
Login needed
Not needed
Attackable
Over the internet
Victim action needed
Not needed
Fix
Available

What is CVE-2026-64016?

CVE-2026-64016 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 19 Jul 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:

ksmbd: fix durable reconnect error path file lifetime

After a durable reconnect succeeds, ksmbd_reopen_durable_fd() republishes the same ksmbd_file into the session volatile-id table. If smb2_open() then takes a later error path, cleanup first calls ksmbd_fd_put(work, fp) and then unconditionally calls ksmbd_put_durable_fd(dh_info.fp).

In this case fp and dh_info.fp are the same object. The first put drops the reconnect lookup reference, but the final durable put can run __ksmbd_close_fd(NULL, fp). Because the final close is not session-aware, it can free the file object without removing the volatile-id entry that was just published into the session table.

Use the session-aware put for the final reconnect drop when the reconnect had already succeeded and the error path is cleaning up the republished file. Earlier reconnect failures, before fp is assigned to dh_info.fp, keep using the durable-only put path.

Weakness: CWE-416

Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-64016?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Linux kernel.

How do I fix CVE-2026-64016?

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-2026-64016 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-64016 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Linux kernel vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-64016, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-64016, GHSA-w63r-7cfm-vm57, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-64016.

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