CVE-2026-74548 forcedeth: fix UAF of txrx_stats in nv_remove
A use-after-free vulnerability in the forcedeth network driver allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute code via improper memory management during device removal.
- 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-2026-74548?
CVE-2026-74548 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 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:
forcedeth: fix UAF of txrx_stats in nv_remove
nv_remove() frees the per-CPU txrx_stats before unregister_netdev(). Until unregister completes, ndo_get_stats64, the NAPI/xmit data path, and nv_close()/drain may still access txrx_stats, leading to a use-after-free.
Free the stats only after unregister_netdev().
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-74548?
How do I fix CVE-2026-74548?
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-2026-74548 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-74548 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-96204, BELL-CVE-2026-74548, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-74548, GHSA-xvfj-3828-276m, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74548.