CVE-2026-74606 eventfs: Fix use-after-free in eventfs_remove_rec()
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel eventfs allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges via recursive removal logic.
- 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-2026-74606?
CVE-2026-74606 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 22 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:
eventfs: Fix use-after-free in eventfs_remove_rec()
eventfs_remove_rec() recursively removes the child at the current loop position. After the recursive call returns, list_for_each_entry() advances by reading list.next from the removed child.
If free_ei() drops the final reference, release_ei() reuses the list/rcu union to queue an SRCU callback. The child may be freed before that read. The eventfs_mutex serializes list updates, but it does not keep the removed child alive or prevent the SRCU callback from running.
Use list_for_each_entry_safe() to save the next sibling before recursively removing the current child.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-74606?
How do I fix CVE-2026-74606?
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-2026-74606 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-74606 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-74606, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-74606, GHSA-qfq9-8c5m-346x, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-74606.