CVE-2026-64556: linux Improper Synchronization

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-64556 is a high (CVSS 7.8) Improper Synchronization vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.12% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 1.9% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 29-07-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 19-10-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

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.

• CWE-662Improper SynchronizationThe product utilizes multiple threads, processes, components, or systems to allow temporary access to a shared resource that can only be exclusive to one process at a time, but it does not properly synchronize these actions, which might cause simultaneous accesses of this resource by multiple threads or processes.