In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

watchdog: pretimeout: Fix UAF in watchdog_unregister_governor()

When a watchdog governor is unregistered, it updates existing watchdog
devices that were using this governor by falling back to `default_gov`.

If the governor being unregistered is currently set as `default_gov`,
the `default_gov` is never cleared. This leads to 2 use-after-free
issues:
1. New watchdog devices registered after this point will inherit the
dangling `default_gov`.
2. Existing watchdog devices using the unregistered governor will have
their `wdd->gov` reassigned to the dangling `default_gov`.

Fix the UAF by clearing `default_gov` if it matches the governor being
unregistered.
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 19:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-825
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate


Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 12:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: watchdog: pretimeout: Fix UAF in watchdog_unregister_governor() When a watchdog governor is unregistered, it updates existing watchdog devices that were using this governor by falling back to `default_gov`. If the governor being unregistered is currently set as `default_gov`, the `default_gov` is never cleared. This leads to 2 use-after-free issues: 1. New watchdog devices registered after this point will inherit the dangling `default_gov`. 2. Existing watchdog devices using the unregistered governor will have their `wdd->gov` reassigned to the dangling `default_gov`. Fix the UAF by clearing `default_gov` if it matches the governor being unregistered.
Title watchdog: pretimeout: Fix UAF in watchdog_unregister_governor()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-10T12:03:34.241Z

Reserved: 2026-07-30T09:28:09.385Z

Link: CVE-2026-68357

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-10T13:20:28.160

Modified: 2026-08-10T13:20:28.160

Link: CVE-2026-68357

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-08-10T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-68357 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-13T04:00:09Z

Weaknesses