CVE-2026-23009
5.5 · MEDIUMOverview
CVE-2026-23009 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on January 25, 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:
xhci: sideband: don't dereference freed ring when removing sideband endpoint
xhci_sideband_remove_endpoint() incorrecly assumes that the endpoint is
running and has a valid transfer ring.
Lianqin reported a crash during suspend/wake-up stress testing, and
found the cause to be dereferencing a non-existing transfer ring
'ep->ring' during xhci_sideband_remove_endpoint().
The endpoint and its ring may be in unknown state if this function
is called after xHCI was reinitialized in resume (lost power), or if
device is being re-enumerated, disconnected or endpoint already dropped.
Fix this by both removing unnecessary ring access, and by checking
ep->ring exists before dereferencing it. Also make sure endpoint is
running before attempting to stop it.
Remove the xhci_initialize_ring_info() call during sideband endpoint
removal as is it only initializes ring structure enqueue, dequeue and
cycle state values to their start
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 | >= 6.16.1, < 6.18.7 | Affected |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2026-23009?
CVE-2026-23009 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting linux linux_kernel. It was published on January 25, 2026 and has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 5.5 (MEDIUM).
How severe is CVE-2026-23009?
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-2026-23009?
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-2026-23009?
CyberStrike's AI-powered security agents can automatically detect CVE-2026-23009 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.
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