CVE-2026-45972
9.8 · CRITICALOverview
CVE-2026-45972 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on May 27, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
smb: client: fix potential UAF and double free in smb2_open_file()
Zero out @err_iov and @err_buftype before retrying SMB2_open() to
prevent an UAF bug if @data != NULL, otherwise a double free.
Remediation
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
Affected Products
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | >= 6.1.163, < 6.1.165 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-45972?
CVE-2026-45972 is a critical-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on May 27, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8 (CRITICAL).
How severe is CVE-2026-45972?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.8, rated CRITICAL. It can be exploited remotely over the network. No authentication or special privileges are required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-45972?
Check the references section for vendor advisories and patches from linux. Update linux_kernel to the latest patched version. If immediate patching is not possible, review the CVSS vector to understand the attack surface and apply compensating controls such as network segmentation or access restrictions.
How can CyberStrike help with CVE-2026-45972?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-45972 across your infrastructure using autonomous pentesting, DAST scanning, and HackBrowser. The platform continuously monitors for known vulnerabilities and provides actionable remediation guidance prioritized by real-world exploitability.
How CyberStrike Helps
AI agents map your attack surface to find vulnerabilities like this one.
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