Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
-
AccessGain local low-privileged shell
-
DeliveryOpen perf group: remove_on_exec leader + plain siblings
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ExploitKeep group active, trigger exec to strand siblings
-
ExecutionClose leader to promote stale active siblings
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PersistForce schedule-in causing double list_add
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ImpactCorrupt PMU active list, escalate privileges
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
|
| Exploitation Conditions | Exploitation requires local code execution as a user permitted to call perf_event_open() (governed by kernel.perf_event_paranoid and/or CAP_PERFMON), and the ability to construct a perf event group where the group leader has the remove_on_exec attribute set while at least one sibling does not, with the group in an active state. The attacker must then cause the leader-owning task to exec (invoking perf_event_remove_on_exec with DETACH_EXIT), and subsequently close the removed leader (DETACH_GROUP) to promote the still-active, stale siblings, so the next schedule-in re-adds an already-linked active_list entry. Limiting factors: exploitation is local only (AV:L), needs at least low privileges/perf access (PR:L) - so hosts with perf_event_paranoid tightened or without unprivileged perf are not exposed via unprivileged users - and reliably weaponizing the resulting list corruption depends on kernel version, DEBUG_LIST configuration, and heap layout. |
| Impact | The signals are consistent but point to a serious-yet-not-urgent local issue. The CVSS 3.1 vector (AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U with C/I/A all High) correctly frames this as a locally exploitable memory-corruption bug requiring an authenticated (PR:L) local user, no user interaction. EPSS is very low (0.16%, 5th percentile) and there is no KEV listing and no public exploit identified, so mass or opportunistic exploitation is unlikely; realistic risk is a skilled local attacker attempting privilege escalation from an existing foothold or breaking sandbox isolation. Weaponizing a controlled double list_add into reliable code execution is non-trivial and depends on kernel config (e.g. perf_event_paranoid, CAP_PERFMON) and heap/list layout, so the AC:L rating may understate practical exploitation difficulty. Priority is moderate: patch on multi-tenant, container, or untrusted-local-user systems; lower urgency on single-user or tightly restricted hosts. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A local unprivileged (or low-privileged) user on a shared or container host opens a perf event group whose leader carries the remove_on_exec attribute while its siblings do not, keeps the group active, and triggers exec to strand the active siblings under a removed leader. They then close the leader to promote the stale siblings and force a schedule-in, causing a double list_add that corrupts the PMU context active list and can be shaped toward kernel memory corruption and privilege escalation. No public exploit is identified at time of analysis; the low AC and no-UI vector make it attractive for local attackers already on the system. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Jul 30, 2026
Local privilege escalation potential via memory corruption in the Linux kernel's perf/core subsystem, where perf_event_remove_on_exec() fails to detach group relationships when removing a group-leader event during exec. On affected kernels, a local user who can open perf events can corrupt the PMU context active list through a double list_add, undermining kernel memory integrity (CVSS 7.8, C:H/I:H/A:H). EPSS is low at 0.16% (5th percentile) with no public exploit identified at time of analysis and no CISA KEV listing.
RemediationAI
Apply the vendor-released stable kernel updates: upgrade to at least 6.6.145, 6.12.96, or 6.18.39 (or your distribution's backported equivalent) as appropriate for your running series, then reboot; the corresponding upstream fixes are the kernel.org stable commits 4cdb1b3ab96e, 39358e856fb8, a2d5d3ee7b6e, 06ccef0434e9, and 037a3c43edfb. Where immediate patching is not possible, restrict access to perf_event_open() by setting kernel.perf_event_paranoid to 2 or higher (or 3 where supported) via sysctl to block unprivileged users from creating the perf events needed to reach the vulnerable path - the trade-off is that legitimate unprivileged profiling and observability tooling (e.g. perf, some eBPF/tracing workflows) will stop working. On multi-tenant or container hosts also ensure CAP_PERFMON/CAP_SYS_ADMIN are not granted to untrusted workloads. Track distribution advisories and NVD (nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-64556) for backport availability.
Affected VersionsENISA
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in euvd
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Technical ContextAI · show details
The flaw lives in the kernel's performance-monitoring core (kernel/events/core.c). When an event is marked remove_on_exec, perf_event_exit_event() removes a top-level event using DETACH_EXIT only, without dissolving its group. If that event is a group leader whose siblings lack remove_on_exec and the group was active, the siblings stay active and linked to the departed leader's sibling list even though no valid leader remains on the PMU active lists. A later close of the leader uses DETACH_GROUP, promoting stale active siblings; the next schedule-in then re-adds an already-linked active_list entry. The root cause is a state-management/list-integrity bug (a use-after/double-add of a list node, CWE-416/CWE-694-class linked-list corruption; the feed lists CWE as N/A), detectable as a list_add double-add in merge_sched_in() when DEBUG_LIST is enabled. Per the CPE (cpe:2.3:a:linux:linux) this affects the mainline/stable Linux kernel generally.
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Severity by source
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Local perf_event access is required (AV:L, PR:L) with no user interaction; kernel memory corruption yields high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, though reliable exploitation is harder than AC:L implies.
AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Primary rating from Vendor (Linux).
CVSS VectorVendor: Linux
Lifecycle Timeline
4DescriptionCVE.org
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
perf/core: Detach event groups during remove_on_exec
perf_event_remove_on_exec() removes events by calling perf_event_exit_event(). For top-level events, this removes the event from the context with DETACH_EXIT only.
This can leave inconsistent group state when a removed event is a group leader and the group contains siblings without remove_on_exec. If the group was active, the surviving siblings can remain active and attached to the removed leader's sibling list, but are no longer represented by a valid group leader on the PMU context active lists.
A later close of the removed leader uses DETACH_GROUP and can promote the still-active siblings from this stale group state. The next schedule-in can then add an already-linked active_list entry again, corrupting the PMU context active list.
With DEBUG_LIST enabled, this is caught as a list_add double-add in merge_sched_in().
Fix this by detaching group relationships when remove_on_exec removes an event. This preserves the existing task-exit and revoke behavior, while ensuring surviving siblings are ungrouped before the removed event leaves the context.
Executive ViewAI
CVE-2026-64556, a high-severity Linux kernel vulnerability, could allow local users to elevate privileges to kernel level, potentially compromising system integrity and data confidentiality across affected infrastructure. Organizations operating Linux systems face direct risk to operational stability and data protection, with impact scope determined by the number of systems and local user population on those systems. Patches are readily available and exploitation remains unlikely, providing a manageable 30-day remediation window.
Apply vendor patch.
Threat Intelligence Overview
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
Information disclosure occurs when an application unintentionally exposes sensitive data that aids attackers in reconnaissance or directly compromises security.
Same weakness CWE-662 – Improper Synchronization
View allSame technique Information Disclosure
View allVendor StatusVendor
SUSE
Severity: Moderate| Product | Status |
|---|---|
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Legacy 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Public Cloud 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP applications 16.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP7 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro 6.2 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Micro Extras 6.1 | Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP7 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 16.0 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 LTSS EXTREME CORE | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5-LTSS Extended Security | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP5-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP6-LTSS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server LTSS Extended Security 12 SP5 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy LTS 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server LTS 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server LTS 4.3 | Affected |
| SUSE CaaS Platform 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-ESPOS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP4-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP5-ESPOS | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP6 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Micro 5.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-BCL | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3-LTSS | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP3 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP5 | Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.0 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.2 | Not-Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP4 | Affected |
| SUSE Real Time Module 15 SP5 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | Not-Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.5 | Affected |
| openSUSE Leap 15.6 | Affected |
EUVD-2026-50201
GHSA-mpx2-cmqf-859j
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
VulDB
Exploit-DB