CVE-2026-46242

HIGH

Linux Kernel eventpoll - Use-After-Free

Title source: manual
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 4 public exploits for CVE-2026-46242. PoCs published by Baba01hacker666, SaithFranklinB, 0xBlackash.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This repository contains a functional local privilege escalation (LPE) exploit for CVE-2026-46242, a race condition in the Linux kernel's epoll subsystem. The exploit includes KASLR bypass via multiple infoleak methods, a race condition trigger, and a KPTI trampoline ROP chain to achieve root privileges.

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: eventpoll: fix ep_remove struct eventpoll / struct file UAF ep_remove() (via ep_remove_file()) cleared file->f_ep under file->f_lock but then kept using @file inside the critical section (is_file_epoll(), hlist_del_rcu() through the head, spin_unlock). A concurrent __fput() taking the eventpoll_release() fastpath in that window observed the transient NULL, skipped eventpoll_release_file() and ran to f_op->release / file_free(). For the epoll-watches-epoll case, f_op->release is ep_eventpoll_release() -> ep_clear_and_put() -> ep_free(), which kfree()s the watched struct eventpoll. Its embedded ->refs hlist_head is exactly where epi->fllink.pprev points, so the subsequent hlist_del_rcu()'s "*pprev = next" scribbles into freed kmalloc-192 memory. In addition, struct file is SLAB_TYPESAFE_BY_RCU, so the slot backing @file could be recycled by alloc_empty_file() -- reinitializing f_lock and f_ep -- while ep_remove() is still nominally inside that lock. The upshot is an attacker-controllable kmem_cache_free() against the wrong slab cache. Pin @file via epi_fget() at the top of ep_remove() and gate the critical section on the pin succeeding. With the pin held @file cannot reach refcount zero, which holds __fput() off and transitively keeps the watched struct eventpoll alive across the hlist_del_rcu() and the f_lock use, closing both UAFs. If the pin fails @file has already reached refcount zero and its __fput() is in flight. Because we bailed before clearing f_ep, that path takes the eventpoll_release() slow path into eventpoll_release_file() and blocks on ep->mtx until the waiter side's ep_clear_and_put() drops it. The bailed epi's share of ep->refcount stays intact, so the trailing ep_refcount_dec_and_test() in ep_clear_and_put() cannot free the eventpoll out from under eventpoll_release_file(); the orphaned epi is then cleaned up there. A successful pin also proves we are not racing eventpoll_release_file() on this epi, so drop the now-redundant re-check of epi->dying under f_lock. The cheap lockless READ_ONCE(epi->dying) fast-path bailout stays.

Exploits (4)

github WORKING POC
by Baba01hacker666 · cpoc
https://github.com/Baba01hacker666/CVE-2026-46242

This repository contains a functional local privilege escalation (LPE) exploit for CVE-2026-46242, a race condition in the Linux kernel's epoll subsystem. The exploit includes KASLR bypass via multiple infoleak methods, a race condition trigger, and a KPTI trampoline ROP chain to achieve root privileges.

Classification
Working Poc 98%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Racy
Target: Linux kernel (versions likely affected by the epoll race condition, specifically tested on 6.4.x)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local unprivileged shell access · Affected Linux kernel version · Ability to compile and execute C code
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 11, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec SCANNER
by SaithFranklinB · poc
https://github.com/SaithFranklinB/ScannerBadEpoll

This repository contains a Bash script that checks if the current Linux kernel version falls within the affected range (6.4 to 6.11) for CVE-2026-46242 (Bad Epoll). The script does not exploit the vulnerability but merely detects potential exposure.

Classification
Scanner 100%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Trivial
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Linux kernel versions 6.4 to 6.11
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to a Linux system with Bash shell
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 08, 2026 Full analysis →
github WORKING POC
by 0xBlackash · cpoc
https://github.com/0xBlackash/CVE-2026-46242

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2026-46242, a Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability in the Linux kernel's `eventpoll` (epoll) subsystem. The exploit leverages a race condition in `ep_remove()` to corrupt kernel memory and achieve local privilege escalation (LPE).

Classification
Working Poc 98%
Attack Type
Lpe
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Racy
Target: Linux Kernel (versions 5.15.209+ to <5.16, 6.1.175+ to <6.2, 6.4 to <6.18.33, 6.19 to <7.0.10)
Auth required
Prerequisites: Local access to a vulnerable Linux system · Vulnerable kernel version (unpatched) · Ability to execute compiled C code
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 04, 2026 Full analysis →
github STUB
by HORKimhab · poc
https://github.com/HORKimhab/poc-cve-collection/tree/main/2026/46xxx/CVE-2026-46242.md

This repository contains a detailed technical writeup of CVE-2026-46242, a use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in the Linux kernel's eventpoll mechanism. The analysis explains the race condition between `ep_remove()` and `__fput()`, leading to memory corruption, but no functional exploit code is provided.

Classification
Stub 95%
Attack Type
Other
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Theoretical
Target: Linux kernel (eventpoll subsystem)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Local access to a vulnerable Linux kernel · Ability to trigger epoll operations (e.g., epoll_ctl, close)
mistral-large-3 · analyzed Jul 04, 2026 Full analysis →

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.0323
EPSS Percentile 87.0%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-416
Status published
Products (30)
linux/Kernel < 6.1.178linux
linux/Kernel 6.13.0 - 6.18.33linux
linux/Kernel 6.13.0 - 7.0.10linux
linux/Kernel 6.19.0 - 7.0.10linux
linux/Kernel 6.2.0 - 6.6.144linux
linux/Kernel 6.4.0 - 6.12.95linux
linux/Kernel 6.4.0 - 6.6.144linux
linux/Kernel 6.7.0 - 6.12.95linux
linux/Kernel 6.7.0 - 6.18.33linux
Linux/Linux < 6.4
... and 20 more
Published May 30, 2026
Tracked Since May 30, 2026