CVE-2026-45972
Modified Modified - Updated After Analysis

Use-After-Free and Double Free in Linux Kernel SMB Client

Vulnerability report for CVE-2026-45972, including description, CVSS score, EPSS score, affected products, exploitability, helpful resources, and attack-flow context.

Publication date: 2026-05-27

Last updated on: 2026-06-30

Assigner: kernel.org

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: smb: client: fix potential UAF and double free in smb2_open_file() Zero out @err_iov and @err_buftype before retrying SMB2_open() to prevent an UAF bug if @data != NULL, otherwise a double free.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

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Meta Information

Published
2026-05-27
Last Modified
2026-06-30
Generated
2026-07-06
AI Q&A
2026-05-27
EPSS Evaluated
2026-07-05
NVD
EUVD

Affected Vendors & Products

Showing 6 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel From 6.12.70 (inc) to 6.12.75 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.1.163 (inc) to 6.1.165 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.18.10 (inc) to 6.18.14 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.19.1 (inc) to 6.19.4 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.6.124 (inc) to 6.6.128 (exc)

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-825 The product dereferences a pointer that contains a location for memory that was previously valid, but is no longer valid.
CWE-416 The product reuses or references memory after it has been freed. At some point afterward, the memory may be allocated again and saved in another pointer, while the original pointer references a location somewhere within the new allocation. Any operations using the original pointer are no longer valid because the memory "belongs" to the code that operates on the new pointer.

Attack-Flow Graph

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Impact Analysis

Exploitation of this vulnerability could lead to memory corruption in the Linux kernel SMB client. This may result in system instability, crashes, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, depending on the context and exploitability.

Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's SMB client, specifically in the smb2_open_file() function. It involves a potential use-after-free (UAF) and double free issue. The problem occurs because certain variables (@err_iov and @err_buftype) were not properly zeroed out before retrying the SMB2_open() operation. If the @data pointer is not NULL, this can lead to a use-after-free bug; otherwise, it can cause a double free.

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EPSS Chart