CVE-2026-68391 Bluetooth: mgmt: hold reference for hci_conn in mgmt_pending_cmds
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel Bluetooth management subsystem allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service.
- 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-2026-68391?
CVE-2026-68391 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 10 Aug 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:
Bluetooth: mgmt: hold reference for hci_conn in mgmt_pending_cmds
Dereferencing RCU-protected pointers outside critical sections is invalid and may lead to UAF. Use of hci_conn in hci_sync callbacks also needs to hold refcount to avoid UAF.
Take appropriate locks for hci_conn lookups, and take refcount for hci_conn pointers stored in mgmt_pending_cmd so that the pointer stays valid.
When accessing conn->state, ensure hdev->lock is held to avoid data race.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-68391?
How do I fix CVE-2026-68391?
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-2026-68391 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-68391 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-68391, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-68391, GHSA-r93r-qrfp-h69j, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-68391.