Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-23158

Vulnerability identifier: #VU122878

CSH Severity: Low

CVSS v4: 8.5 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2026-23158

CWE-ID: CWE-416

Exploitation vector: Local access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a local user to escalate privileges on the system.

The vulnerability exists due to a use-after-free error within the gpio_virtuser_device_config_group_release() function in drivers/gpio/gpio-virtuser.c. A local user can escalate privileges on the system.

Linux kernel
Ubuntu
linux-azure-fde-6.17 (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-6.17 (Ubuntu package)
linux-oracle-6.17 (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-6.17 (Ubuntu package)
linux-oem-6.17 (Ubuntu package)

Install update from vendor's repository.

linux-azure-fde-6.17 (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.17.0-1018.18~24.04.1
linux-gcp-6.17 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.17.0-1018.20~24.04.1, 6.17.0-1021.24~24.04.1
linux-oracle-6.17 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.17.0-1019.19~24.04.3, 6.17.0-1019.19~24.04.3+1
linux-azure-6.17 (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.17.0-1021.21~24.04.1
linux-oem-6.17 (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.17.0-1030.30

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/53ad4a948a4586359b841d607c08fb16c5503230
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7bec90f605cfb138006f5ba575f2310593347110
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/815a8e3bf72811d402b30bd4a53cde5e9df7a563

• Use-after-free in Linux kernel gpio driver
• Ubuntu update for linux-gcp-6.17
• Ubuntu update for linux-oem-6.17
• Ubuntu update for linux-azure-fde-6.17
• Ubuntu update for linux-azure-6.17
• Ubuntu update for linux-oracle-6.17