Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-68363

Vulnerability identifier: #VU141695

CSH Severity: Low

CVSS v4: 5.7 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]

CVE-ID: CVE-2026-68363

CWE-ID: CWE-416

Exploitation vector: Local access

Exploit availability: No public exploit available

The vulnerability allows a local user to cause a denial of service.

The vulnerability exists due to use-after-free in ath9k_hif_request_firmware() in drivers/net/wireless/ath/ath9k/hif_usb.c when handling a failed asynchronous firmware request during concurrent USB device disconnect. A local user can trigger a firmware download failure and a concurrent disconnect to cause a denial of service.

The issue is triggered by a race condition between the firmware callback running on the events workqueue and device disconnect, leading to a read from freed memory.

Linux kernel
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for IBM z Systems
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time for NFV
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Real Time
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder for ARM 64
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder for Power, little endian
Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder for x86_64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for ARM 64
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Power, little endian
Red Hat Enterprise Linux for x86_64
Basesystem Module
Development Tools Module
Legacy Module
Public Cloud Module
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_21-debugsource
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default-debuginfo
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default
kernel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt (Red Hat package)
kernel-64kb
gfs2-kmp-default
kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfo
kernel-zfcpdump-debugsource
kernel-zfcpdump
kernel-devel
kernel-macros
kernel-default-devel
kernel-default-devel-debuginfo
kernel-default
kernel-default-debugsource
cluster-md-kmp-default-debuginfo
dlm-kmp-default
gfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo
ocfs2-kmp-default
dlm-kmp-default-debuginfo
ocfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo
kernel-default-debuginfo
cluster-md-kmp-default
kernel-default-extra
reiserfs-kmp-default
kernel-default-extra-debuginfo
kernel-azure-devel-debuginfo
kernel-azure-debuginfo
kernel-azure-debugsource
kernel-azure-devel
kernel-azure
kernel-default-livepatch-devel
kernel-default-livepatch
reiserfs-kmp-default-debuginfo
kernel-64kb-debuginfo
kernel-source
kernel-obs-build-debugsource
kernel-obs-build
kernel-syms
kernel-docs
kernel-64kb-debugsource
kernel-64kb-devel-debuginfo
kernel-64kb-devel
kernel-default-base
kernel-uki-virt (Red Hat package)
kernel-tools-libs (Red Hat package)
kernel-tools (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-debug-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-debug-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-debug-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-debug-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-debug-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-debug (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-uki-virt-addons (Red Hat package)
kernel-modules-extra-matched (Red Hat package)
kernel-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-headers (Red Hat package)
kernel-devel-matched (Red Hat package)
kernel-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-uki-virt (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-devel-matched (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-debug (Red Hat package)
rv (Red Hat package)
kernel-64k-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-64k-devel-matched (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-debug (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-debug-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-debug-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-rt-64k-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched (Red Hat package)
kernel-cross-headers (Red Hat package)
kernel-tools-libs-devel (Red Hat package)
libperf (Red Hat package)
kernel-64k-debug-devel (Red Hat package)
rtla (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump-modules-extra (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump-modules-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump-modules (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump-devel-matched (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump-devel (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump-core (Red Hat package)
kernel-zfcpdump (Red Hat package)
python3-perf (Red Hat package)
perf (Red Hat package)

Install security update from vendor's repository.

Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_21-debugsource - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default-debuginfo - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel (Red Hat package) - update to 4.18.0-553.163.1.el8_10
kernel-rt (Red Hat package) - addressed in versions 4.18.0-553.163.1.rt7.504.el8_10, 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-64kb - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
gfs2-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-zfcpdump-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-zfcpdump - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-macros - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
cluster-md-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
dlm-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
gfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
ocfs2-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
dlm-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
ocfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
cluster-md-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-extra - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
reiserfs-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-extra-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-livepatch-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-livepatch - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
reiserfs-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-source - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-obs-build-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-obs-build - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-syms - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-docs - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-base - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1.150700.17.45.1
kernel-uki-virt (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-tools-libs (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-tools (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-debug-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-debug-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-debug-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-debug-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-debug-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-debug (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-uki-virt-addons (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-modules-extra-matched (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-headers (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-devel-matched (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-uki-virt (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-devel-matched (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-debug (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
rv (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-64k-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-64k-devel-matched (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-debug (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-debug-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-debug-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-debug-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-rt-64k-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-64k-debug-devel-matched (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-cross-headers (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-tools-libs-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
libperf (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-64k-debug-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
rtla (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump-modules-extra (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump-modules-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump-modules (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump-devel-matched (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump-devel (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump-core (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
kernel-zfcpdump (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
python3-perf (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2
perf (Red Hat package) - update to 6.12.0-211.56.1.el10_2

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/10b0ce629123a3737b4eda50188f73bb7be7b68b
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/48a69cedde7388294e4ea6fd804156cd62bc04fc
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7c9046d92c4b9789c9d9d775e4fd5f34be64cb0a
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f184ca38a90889f3f6665ff96748b95da39dbee
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dad9f96945d77ecd4708f730c06ef54dcd8cc057

• Use-after-free in Linux kernel ath ath9k driver
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 update for kernel
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 update for kernel-rt
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 update for kernel
• SUSE update for the Linux Kernel