Vulnerability · CVE-2026-80521
af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in unix_del_edge().
Published Aug 26, 2026 · catalog updated Oct 13, 2026 · af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in
Check if you run it
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-80521. EPSS is 0.17%. Act only if a listed version of af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in is installed.
Gaps on this record
- The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in).
- No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
- Severity
- High7.8
- Known exploitation
- Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
- EPSS
- 0.17%
- Remediation
- Advisory link
- Affected products
- Linux Kernel
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in unix_del_edge(). Kyle Zeng reported that GC could free a dead SCC partially. The scenario is as follows: 1) Create two SCCs: X -. A B ^--' 2) Run the following concurrently: 2-1) send() sk-B to sk-B from sk-X 2-2) close() both A and B At 2-1), there is a small window where unix_add_edges() publishes a new edge (B B) to GC but its skb is not queued by skb_queue_tail(). If 2-2) completes before skb_queue_tail() and GC is triggered, it judges A B as dead, but B is not freed because GC cannot collect the not-yet-queued skb holding the B B edge. X -. A B -. This edge is visible ^--' ^..' but skb is not This itself is not a problem since the next GC run will judge B as dead as well and free it finally. X -. A B -. ^--' ^--' However, X's SCC forces the next GC to call unix_walk_scc_fast(), and it iterates over A through B's scc_entry. Let's unlink scc_entry before freeing the vertex in unix_del_edge().
Are you affected?
Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.
The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.
- Linux Kernel0 → 6.1.189
How to fix CVE-2026-80521
Recommended remediation
A patch or advisory reference is linked. Open the original publisher for availability by product version.
Official advisories
What to do
Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.
Should you patch?
No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2026-80521. EPSS is 0.17%. Act only if a listed version of af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in is installed.
Which versions are affected?
Compare what you have installed with Kernel 0 → 6.1.189. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.
What should an analyst verify?
No weakness class is stored. EPSS 0.17%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.
Code
The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.
Timeline
Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.
Aug 26, 2026 · Catalog
Detected
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in unix_del_edge(). Kyle Zeng reported that GC could free a dead SCC partially. The scenario is as follows: 1) Create two SCCs: X -. A B ^--' 2) Run the following concurrently: 2-1) send() sk-B to sk-B from sk-X 2-2) close() both A and B At 2-1), there is a small window where unix_add_edges() publishes a
Oct 13, 2026 · Catalog
Fix available
Linux Kernel 0 → 6.1.189
Oct 13, 2026 · Catalog
Updated
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in unix_del_edge(). Kyle Zeng reported that GC could free a dead SCC partially. The scenario is as follows: 1) Create two SCCs: X -. A B ^--' 2) Run the following concurrently: 2-1) send() sk-B to sk-B from sk-X 2-2) close() both A and B At 2-1), there is a small window where unix_add_edges() publishes a
Sources
- CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2026-80521
Official CVE identifier
cve.org - FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2026-80521
30-day exploitation probability 0.2%
first.org - OpenSSF OSV / OSV ScannerPackage advisoryCVE-2026-80521
af_unix: Unlink scc_entry in unix_del_edge().
osv.dev
References
Freshness
Last verified in this catalog Oct 18, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.