High [CVE-2026-53157] free phonet_device after RCU grace period
This high-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-53157 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6, Red Hat package: kernel.
Aggregated and source-linked by VulniPulse. Data sources, validation and limitations.
VulniPulse record published Record updated
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: phonet: free phonet_device after RCU grace period phonet_device_destroy() removes a phonet_device from the per-net device list with list_del_rcu(), but frees it immediately.
RCU readers walking the same list can still hold a pointer to the object after it has been removed, leading to a slab-use-after-free. Use kfree_rcu(), matching the lifetime rule already used by phonet_address_del() for the same object type.
A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's phonet networking subsystem. This vulnerability occurs because a phonet device is freed immediately after being removed from a list, while other parts of the kernel (RCU readers) may still hold a pointer to the freed memory.
This can lead to a use-after-free condition, potentially allowing a local attacker to cause a denial of service or escalate privileges. Red Hat severity: Moderate — CVSS 7 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Weakness: CWE-825. Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.
Will not fix / out of support: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6. Red Hat does not currently list a fixing RHSA for this CVE.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: kernel.
Is CVE-2026-53157 exploited?
No exploitation is reported in the sources VulniPulse tracks: CVE-2026-53157 is not in the CISA KEV catalog (checked ) and this advisory does not report exploitation. That is not proof the vulnerability cannot be exploited.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53157?
The advisory VulniPulse tracks names no fixed release. Follow Red Hat's guidance for workarounds and updates.
Confirm against the vendor advisory before you patch.
Affected versions
No affected-version range was extracted from the source record. The vendor advisory is authoritative. Check it before change work.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 15 days ago·verify at source
Fixed versions
No fixed release is recorded yet. That does not prove no patch exists. Confirm against the vendor advisory.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 15 days ago·verify at source
Mitigation
The source record does not include mitigation steps. That does not mean no fix exists. Read the vendor advisory below for the authoritative guidance.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 15 days ago·verify at source
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