CVE-2026-10681: SMP race in `thread_idx_alloc()` lets concurrent `k_object_alloc(K_OBJ_THREAD)` callers share a kernel-object permission slot

Published Jul 25, 2026
·
Updated

In Zephyr's userspace dynamic-objects subsystem, threadidxalloc() in kernel/userspace/userspace.c allocated a new thread permission index from the global threadidxmap[] bitmap without holding listslock.

On SMP systems, two user-mode threads invoking the kobjectalloc(KOBJTHREAD) syscall concurrently can both observe the same low free bit, perform the same non-atomic RMW to clear it, and return the identical tidx.

The two newly created KOBJTHREAD objects are then assigned the same threadid, so the two user threads alias a single bit position in every kernel object's perms[] bitfield: any subsequent grant of access on a kernel object to one thread is implicitly a grant to the other, defeating userspace ACL isolation. A secondary lost-update window between the unlocked &=~BIT() in alloc and the locked |= BIT() in threadidxfree() can also leak entries from the thread-index pool.

The defect is reachable from any user-mode thread via the unrestricted syscall kobjectalloc and is gated on CONFIGUSERSPACE, CONFIGDYNAMICOBJECTS, and CONFIGSMP. The flaw was introduced when the per-thread permission index was added in 2018 and is present in every release up to and including v4.4.0. Fixed by holding listslock across the bitmap RMW and the permissions clear (and inlining the objlist traversal that previously took the lock itself).

Affected Software

1 affected component
Zephyr Project Zephyr OS<=4.4.0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade Zephyr dynamic-objects subsystem (kernel/userspace/userspace.c) to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in v4.4.0

Event History

Jul 25, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·01:23 PM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·01:23 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·02:16 PM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-10681?

CVE-2026-10681 has a medium severity rating of 6.5.

2

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-10681?

CVE-2026-10681 is a race condition vulnerability.

3

How does CVE-2026-10681 affect the Zephyr OS?

CVE-2026-10681 allows concurrent k_object_alloc(K_OBJ_THREAD) callers to share a kernel-object permission slot.

4

How do I fix CVE-2026-10681?

To fix CVE-2026-10681, ensure that the allocation of thread permission indices is done while holding the necessary lock.

5

What is the impact of CVE-2026-10681 on SMP systems?

On SMP systems, CVE-2026-10681 can lead to improper sharing of kernel-object permissions between threads.

Contact

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