CVE-2026-46259
Race Condition in Linux Kernel procfs Real-Parent Access
Publication date: 2026-06-03
Last updated on: 2026-06-03
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-UNKNOWN |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's procfs subsystem, specifically in the function do_task_stat() which reads the /proc/[pid]/stat file.
The issue is that do_task_stat() accesses the real_parent field of a task structure without proper Read-Copy-Update (RCU) protection. This improper handling can lead to a use-after-free (UAF) condition because the real_parent pointer might be freed or modified concurrently.
The vulnerability arises because the RCU read lock is applied too late, after accessing the real_parent pointer, which means the pointer can become invalid during the access.
The fix involves using task_ppid_nr_ns() instead of task_tgid_nr_ns() to ensure proper RCU protection when accessing real_parent, preventing the use-after-free scenario.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can lead to a use-after-free condition in the Linux kernel when reading process information from /proc/[pid]/stat.
A use-after-free can cause kernel memory corruption, which may result in system instability, crashes, or potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges.
Exploitation of this vulnerability could compromise the security and reliability of the affected system.