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CVE Record

CVE-2026-43332: thermal: core: Fix thermal zone device registration error path

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: thermal: core: Fix thermal zone device registration error path If thermal_zone_device_register_with_trips() fails after registering a thermal zone device, it needs to wait for the tz->removal completion like thermal_zone_device_unregister(), in case user space has managed to take a reference to the thermal zone device's kobject, in which case thermal_release() may not be called by the error path itself and tz may be freed prematurely. Add the missing wait_for_completion() call to the thermal zone device registration error path.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2026-43332 is a Linux kernel bug in thermal device registration error handling. Under certain failure conditions, the kernel may free thermal-zone data too early while user space still holds a reference. The CVSS score is high, but exploitation requires local access. No provided source indicates active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat as a high-priority kernel maintenance item, especially for systems with local users or untrusted workloads. It is not currently supported as actively exploited by the provided sources, so prioritize alongside normal emergency kernel patch processes rather than incident response.

Technical view

The Linux thermal core missed a wait_for_completion() call when thermal_zone_device_register_with_trips() fails after registering a thermal zone device. If user space holds a kobject reference, thermal_release() may not run in the error path, creating a premature free condition. Kernel stable commits are referenced as fixes.

Likely exposure

Exposure is limited to Linux systems running affected kernel versions or builds containing the vulnerable thermal core code. The source data lists Linux kernels and several stable commit references, but version ranges are unusual and should be validated against distribution advisories.

Exploitation context

The CVSS vector is local, low-complexity, low-privilege, no user interaction, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. The provided sources do not show KEV listing, public exploitation, or weaponized exploit availability.

Researcher notes

The issue is a lifetime-management bug in the thermal subsystem registration error path. The key fix is adding the missing completion wait to avoid freeing tz before delayed kobject release. Provided affected version data is incomplete or inconsistent, so commit-level and vendor validation are important.

Mitigation direction

  • Check your Linux distribution or kernel vendor advisory for CVE-2026-43332.
  • Update to a kernel build that includes the referenced stable fix.
  • Prioritize shared, multi-user, and untrusted workload hosts.
  • Reboot systems after kernel update where required.
  • Track vendor guidance if fixed package availability is unclear.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory running kernel versions across Linux assets.
  • Compare builds against vendor advisories and referenced stable commits.
  • Confirm patched kernels are actually booted after maintenance.
  • Record exceptions where vendor status is not yet available.
  • Monitor CISA KEV and vendor updates for exploitation changes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
7

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

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CVE-2026-43332 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

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

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
3Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Linux

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2026-43332Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

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

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Vulnerability timeline

Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.

  1. CVE reservedCVE Program

    The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.

  2. CVE publishedCVE Program

    The CVE record was published.

  3. CVE updatedCVE Program

    The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
LinuxLinux335176dd8ebaca6493807dceea33c478305667fa, 04e6ccfc93c5a1aa1d75a537cf27e418895e20ea, 04e6ccfc93c5a1aa1d75a537cf27e418895e20ea, 04e6ccfc93c5a1aa1d75a537cf27e418895e20ea, 04e6ccfc93c5a1aa1d75a537cf27e418895e20ea, 02871710b93058eb1249d5847c0b2d1c2c3c98ae, 6.6.14, 6.7.2unaffected
LinuxLinux6.8, 0, 6.6.134, 6.12.81, 6.18.22, 6.19.12, 7.0affected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.