---
title: "CVE-2026-80947: Linux kernel rtl8xxxu - Use After Free"
description: "Linux kernel rtl8xxxu driver contains a use-after-free vulnerability caused by improper cancellation of rx_urb_wq worker during device stop, letting attackers cause memory corruption or system instability, exploit requires active RX traffic followed by device disconnect."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-80947/
---

# CVE-2026-80947 Linux kernel rtl8xxxu - Use After Free

Linux kernel rtl8xxxu driver contains a use-after-free vulnerability caused by improper cancellation of rx\_urb\_wq worker during device stop, letting attackers cause memory corruption or system instability, exploit requires active RX traffic followed by device disconnect.

CVSS base score 7.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.16% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80947)

## Details

Type

Use After Free

Impact

Denial Of Service, Remote Code Execution

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Published

11 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for rtl8xxxu use-after-free.

Patching closes this CVE. It does not tell you which of your systems run the affected version, or what else is exposed alongside them.

## References

- [https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80947](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80947)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/800d2b490a9af1e7132a3564c2ad5a81292e5b40](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/800d2b490a9af1e7132a3564c2ad5a81292e5b40)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/972ab8b9c08f3eb3fa535082de2950dd93604dfd](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/972ab8b9c08f3eb3fa535082de2950dd93604dfd)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/620acb1e8037b73a457dc8ef20fc23fc7adcb405](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/620acb1e8037b73a457dc8ef20fc23fc7adcb405)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c080026ecc17eecb103f8927c64ea73a74bb818](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6c080026ecc17eecb103f8927c64ea73a74bb818)

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## What this record can't tell you

- Whether you run the affected software, and where
- Whether an attacker can actually reach and exploit it
- The misconfigurations that never get a CVE number
- What it would cost the business, ranked into what to fix first

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