CVE-2026-97932 tracing: Don't dereference trace_event_file in deferred trigger free
A use-after-free in the Linux kernel tracing subsystem allows local attackers to cause denial of service or potentially escalate privileges.
- 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-2026-97932?
CVE-2026-97932 is an use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 25 Sep 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:
tracing: Don't dereference trace_event_file in deferred trigger free
The enable_event trigger defers trace_event_put_ref() to the trigger free kthread, but the trace_event_file can already be freed when the instance is removed.
Keep the trace_event_call directly in enable_trigger_data so the deferred free does not access the freed trace_event_file.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97932?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97932?
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-2026-97932 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97932 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97932, GHSA-pm4h-64gj-cjhp, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97932.