Vulnerability · Published May 8, 2026 · Assigned by Linux

CVE-2026-43438sched_ext: Remove redundant css_put() in scx_cgroup_init()

High 7.8

In plain English

A high-severity security flaw in Linux from Linux. There are no confirmed reports of exploitation so far. The chance it is exploited in the next 30 days is estimated at 0.1% (higher than 2% of all known vulnerabilities). Fixed versions are available - upgrade the affected package.

Severity (CVSS 3.1)7.8High
Exploit odds (30 days)0.1%top 97.7% of all CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo reportsnot in CISA KEV
Attack toolingNoneno public tooling known

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: sched_ext: Remove redundant css_put() in scx_cgroup_init() The iterator css_for_each_descendant_pre() walks the cgroup hierarchy under cgroup_lock(). It does not increment the reference counts on yielded css structs. According to the cgroup documentation, css_put() should only be used to release a reference obtained via css_get() or css_tryget_online(). Since the iterator does not use either of these to acquire a reference, calling css_put() in the error path of scx_cgroup_init() causes a refcount underflow. Remove the unbalanced css_put() to prevent a potential Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability.

Affected packages & fixed versions

EcosystemPackageFixed inAdvisory
Debian:13linux6.12.85-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43438
Debian:14linux6.19.10-1DEBIAN-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linuxno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-allwinner-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-awsno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-aws-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azureno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-azure-fdeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-azure-fde-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-azure-nvidia-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-gcpno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-gcp-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-intel-iot-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-nvidia-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-5.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.0no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.1no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.11no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oem-6.8no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-oracleno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-oracle-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-raspino fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-raspi-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-realtimeno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:25.10linux-riscvno fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.14no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:24.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.17no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-riscv-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-5.19no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.2no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438
Ubuntu:22.04:LTSlinux-starfive-6.5no fix listedUBUNTU-CVE-2026-43438

Affected products (as reported)

VendorProductVersions
Linux Linux 8195136669661fdfe54e9a8923c33b31c92fc1da – before cc095cd305fddbe25a968e4a78436ff9476cf0f68195136669661fdfe54e9a8923c33b31c92fc1da – before 6eaaa67d6998f6c30c462b140db8c062e07ec4738195136669661fdfe54e9a8923c33b31c92fc1da – before bf50f3285eda8a0173625fcdb5f183f96e1008cd8195136669661fdfe54e9a8923c33b31c92fc1da – before 1336b579f6079fb8520be03624fcd9ba443c930b
Linux Linux 6.12

References