Use-after-free in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-74465

Vulnerability details

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

The vulnerability exists due to use-after-free in the openvswitch meter handling code when processing crafted netlink requests through the uAPI. A local user can trigger meter attach failure conditions and concurrently access the freed meter to cause a denial of service.

Exploitation is possible with a custom application using the uAPI, while the issue is not triggered in the typical ovs-vswitchd usage pattern described in the advisory.

Affected software

How to mitigate CVE-2026-74465

External References

• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0310d1fa7f9debd0d89629e9f14c7975a47eaa9a
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/431a295d93f76fbdb6a7cfce92a9e3dfee1e5d61
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d03e5fa3fbb1df15258a1eb3d6963f0d65659b3
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/90623c9499627803ef3f04fa25a3199402d4fb95
• https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a58a2b0ce354df531ebc71fc870058c2feb59f6b

Related Security Bulletins

• Use-after-free in Linux kernel openvswitch
• Debian update for linux