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major vulnerability· requires attention

Kernel-level ksmbd vulnerability can enable remote kernel memory corruption on Linux systems, affecting widespread infrastructure and requiring org-wide attention.

Systems

CVE-2026-90162

8.8
High
EPSS 0.70%Patch available

ksmbd UAF/double-free in SMB2_LOCK allows kernel memory corruption via crafted SMB requests

exploited
No known exploitation not in CISA KEV as of our last sync
fix
Fixed in < 5.15, >= 7.2.6 and <= 7.2.*, >= 7.3-rc1 and <= *
likelihood
EPSS 0.70%top 47% of scored CVEs
Published 17 Sept 2026Analysed here 19 Sept 2026CVSS scored by the publisher (CNA)

do firstUpgrade to a fixed release: < 5.15, >= 7.2.6 and <= 7.2.*, >= 7.3-rc1 and <= *.

common questions

Is CVE-2026-90162 being exploited?

Not confirmed. CVE-2026-90162 does not appear in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, which records only exploitation that has been observed and reported publicly. That is evidence of absence of a report, not evidence the flaw is unattacked. EPSS currently estimates a 0.70% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How severe is CVE-2026-90162?

CVE-2026-90162 is rated High with a CVSS score of 8.8. Severity describes how bad exploitation would be, not how likely it is: pair it with exploitation evidence before deciding what to patch first.

Is there a patch for CVE-2026-90162?

Yes. A fix has been recorded for CVE-2026-90162. The vendor advisory is the authority on the exact fixed version — apply it from there rather than from a summary.

What does CVE-2026-90162 affect?

CVE-2026-90162 affects Linux kernel (ksmbd SMB server), Linux distributions with ksmbd enabled. Confirm the exact affected versions against the vendor advisory before deciding you are exposed.

What should I do about CVE-2026-90162?

Apply the kernel patch / update to a fixed kernel or disable ksmbd immediately

Exploitation status reflects CISA's KEV catalog as we last synced it. Check the catalog directly.

executive summary
technical analysis
affected
Linux kernel (ksmbd SMB server)Linux distributions with ksmbd enabled
impact

Kernel use-after-free/double-free via malformed SMB2_LOCK batches; may cause kernel crash, privilege escalation, or remote code execution.

action required

Immediate action required

affected versions
Linux
  • affected>= e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 and < a1d26dfb32919088e3638dca01068df3c4507433
  • affected>= e2f34481b24db2fd634b5edb0a5bd0e4d38cc6e9 and < 29f74f0f2e6df3b393b7b66e810136d0c64e3c59
  • affected5.15
vendor says fixed in< 5.15, >= 7.2.6 and <= 7.2.*, >= 7.3-rc1 and <= *

As published in the CVE Program record. A version outside these ranges is not a statement that it is unaffected — vendors sometimes understate a range, and distribution-backported builds carry upstream numbers that do not reflect what was patched into them.

timeline

  1. 17 Sept 2026Published
  2. 19 Sept 2026Analysed by vulneraibility.com · 2 days later
  3. 30 Oct 2026CVE record last updated · 41 days later
how to fix
Remediation steps are tailored for users whose stack is affected. Add this technology to your stack to see the fix checklist.
references
NVDCVE.orgCVE DetailsSource
6 references in the CVE record: 6 links

sources

  • CVE List (CVE.org): description, affected versions, references; CVE Terms of Use
  • NVD: CVSS and CPE data
  • FIRST EPSS: exploit probability and percentile
  • Summary, impact and triage tags: written by our AI analysis pipeline from the sources above. Check them against the sources.
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