CVE-2026-53247 — Linux kernel mtk_eth_soc use-after-free in metadata dst teardown
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: ethernet: mtk_eth_soc: Fix use-after-free in metadata dst teardown mtk_free_dev() calls metadata_dst_free() which frees the metadata_dst with kfree() immediately, bypassing the RCU grace period. In the RX path, skb_dst_set_noref() sets a non-refcounted pointer from the skb to the metadata_dst. This function requires RCU read-side protection and the dst must remain valid until all RCU readers complete. Since metadata_dst_free() calls kfree() directly, a use-after-free can occur if any skb still holds a noref pointer to the dst when the driver tears it down. Replace metadata_dst_free() with dst_release() which properly goes through the refcount path: when the refcount drops to zero, it schedules the actual free via call_rcu_hurry(), ensuring all RCU readers have completed before the memory is freed.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.7% (30-day exploitation probability)+8
- Technical severity (critical)+10
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux, Linux Linux Kernel).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ 2d7605a729062bb554f03c5983d8cfb8c0b42e9c and < 72775977e89c25c99ee84d2c5baa3f86a8ba5cb4≥ 2d7605a729062bb554f03c5983d8cfb8c0b42e9c and < 459c6f35c58cf0fd5247e55d73ddaa29571d9b7e≥ 2d7605a729062bb554f03c5983d8cfb8c0b42e9c and < e634408d2b0cd939cfe019398a21fb47b7a8ffe3≥ 2d7605a729062bb554f03c5983d8cfb8c0b42e9c and < 2d86aeb46d5f69c704065a8c69822582787272a1≥ 2d7605a729062bb554f03c5983d8cfb8c0b42e9c and < 80df409e1a483676826a6c66e693dba6ac507751version 6.2 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Linux | Linux Kernel |
≥ 6.2 and < 6.6.143≥ 6.7 and < 6.12.94≥ 6.13 and < 6.18.36≥ 6.19 and < 7.0.13version 7.1-rc1version 7.1-rc2version 7.1-rc3version 7.1-rc4 and 2 moreversion 7.1-rc5version 7.1-rc6 |
Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | 3.9 | 5.9 | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 9.8 | CVSS 3.1 | Critical | — | — | Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H (score shown at the top: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 15, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 0.69%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
- Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
Analysis and videos
CVE-2026-53247: Linux kernel mtk_eth_soc use-after-free in metadata dst teardown
A use-after-free (CWE-416) in the mtk_eth_soc Ethernet driver of the Linux kernel can occur when a metadata dst is freed immediately instead of after the RCU grace period. The CNA-assigned CVSS 3.1 base score is 9.8 (Critical), and the record links five stable-tree patch commits. The sources consulted show no confirmed exploitation.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 9.8
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
5 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/80df409e1a483676826a6c66e693dba6ac507751
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/72775977e89c25c99ee84d2c5baa3f86a8ba5cb4
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e634408d2b0cd939cfe019398a21fb47b7a8ffe3
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/459c6f35c58cf0fd5247e55d73ddaa29571d9b7e
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d86aeb46d5f69c704065a8c69822582787272a1
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 2d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-53247 is "Linux kernel mtk_eth_soc use-after-free in metadata dst teardown", rated Critical. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 9.8 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.69% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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