CVE-2026-53097 Linux CVE debrief

Who should care

System administrators and users of Linux kernel versions 6.4, 6.13, and 6.19 should be aware of this vulnerability and take necessary actions to mitigate the risk. They should review system configurations, apply patches or mitigations, and monitor system logs for suspicious activity.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by a race condition between the removal path and the workqueue. When the mt7996 pci chip is detaching, the mt7996_crash_data is released in mt7996_coredump_unregister(). However, the work item dump_work may still be running or pending, leading to use-after-free bugs when the already freed crash_data is dereferenced again in mt7996_mac_dump_work(). The issue can be fixed by ensuring dump_work is properly canceled before the crash_data is deallocated. This fix requires updates to the mt7996_unregister_device() function.

Defensive priority

High priority should be given to patching Linux kernel versions 6.4, 6.13, and 6.19 to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize patching and verify system configurations to ensure the vulnerability is mitigated.

Recommended defensive actions

• Apply patches from Linux kernel stable branches
• Inventory and update affected Linux kernel versions
• Monitor system logs for suspicious activity
• Implement compensating controls to detect and prevent exploitation
• Review system configurations for potential exposure
• Track exceptions and retest remediated assets
• Verify patch deployment and system stability

Evidence notes

The CVE record was published on 2026-06-24T17:17:23.923Z and last modified on 2026-07-21T18:21:38.230Z. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel versions 6.4, 6.13, and 6.19. System administrators and users should verify their system configurations and apply patches or mitigations as necessary.

Official resources