# CVE-2026-64073: irq_work: Fix use-after-free in irq_work_single() on PREEMPT_RT

> A use-after-free in the Linux kernel's irq_work subsystem on PREEMPT_RT configurations allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges.

- **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:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-64073, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-64073, GHSA-8ffv-2j52-h7h3, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-64073

## What is CVE-2026-64073?

CVE-2026-64073 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:

irq_work: Fix use-after-free in irq_work_single() on PREEMPT_RT

On PREEMPT_RT, non-HARD irq_work runs in per-CPU kthreads via
run_irq_workd(), so irq_work_sync() uses rcuwait() to wait for BUSY==0.

After irq_work_single() clears BUSY via atomic_cmpxchg(), it still
dereferences @work for irq_work_is_hard() and rcuwait_wake_up().

An irq_work_sync() caller on another CPU that enters after BUSY is cleared
can observe BUSY==0 immediately, return, and free the work before those
accesses complete — causing a use-after-free.

Fix this by wrapping run_irq_workd() in guard(rcu)() so that the entire
irq_work_single() execution is within an RCU read-side critical
section. Then add synchronize_rcu() in irq_work_sync() after
rcuwait_wait_event() to ensure the caller waits for the RCU grace period
before returning, preventing premature frees.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-64073?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Linux kernel.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-64073?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-64073 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-64073 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-2026-64073 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-64073 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-2026-64073 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-2026-64073/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-64073/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-64073
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-64073
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-64073

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-64073/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.