---
title: "CVE-2026-97478: Linux kernel virt: acrn - Use After Free"
description: "Linux kernel virt: acrn contains a use-after-free vulnerability caused by race conditions between acrn_irqfd_deassign() and eventfd EPOLLHUP wakeup in irqfd shutdown, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires concurrent eventfd shutdown and irqfd deassign."
url: https://panop.io/threat-heartbeat/CVE-2026-97478/
---

# CVE-2026-97478 Linux kernel virt: acrn - Use After Free

Linux kernel virt: acrn contains a use-after-free vulnerability caused by race conditions between acrn\_irqfd\_deassign() and eventfd EPOLLHUP wakeup in irqfd shutdown, letting attackers cause memory corruption, exploit requires concurrent eventfd shutdown and irqfd deassign.

CVSS base score 7.8 /10

High

CISA KEV

Not listed

Public exploit

None known

Authentication

Required

EPSS

0.12% chance of exploitation in 30 days

[View the NVD record ↗](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97478)

## Details

Type

Use After Free

CVSS vector

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

Published

24 September 2026

Updated

15 October 2026

## Vendor fix

Update to the latest Linux kernel version containing the fix for acrn irqfd use-after-free during eventfd shutdown.

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-2026-97478](https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97478)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/666c7f9e07925aa0863348f960e09bb89f8f05a3](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/666c7f9e07925aa0863348f960e09bb89f8f05a3)
- [https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d8156aacfcabb81f52c20ef89094945434d08079](https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d8156aacfcabb81f52c20ef89094945434d08079)

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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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