CVE-2026-45981
5.5 · MEDIUMOverview
CVE-2026-45981 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on May 27, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
Technical Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
s390/cio: Fix device lifecycle handling in css_alloc_subchannel()
`css_alloc_subchannel()` calls `device_initialize()` before setting up
the DMA masks. If `dma_set_coherent_mask()` or `dma_set_mask()` fails,
the error path frees the subchannel structure directly, bypassing
the device model reference counting.
Once `device_initialize()` has been called, the embedded struct device
must be released via `put_device()`, allowing the release callback to
free the container structure.
Fix the error path by dropping the initial device reference with
`put_device()` instead of calling `kfree()` directly.
This ensures correct device lifetime handling and avoids potential
use-after-free or double-free issues.
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 | >= 3.10, < 6.6.128 | Affected |
References
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-45981?
CVE-2026-45981 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on May 27, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
How severe is CVE-2026-45981?
This vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5, rated MEDIUM. It requires local or adjacent network access to exploit. Some level of privileges is required for exploitation.
How do I fix or remediate CVE-2026-45981?
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-2026-45981?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-45981 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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