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Vulnerability record · CVE-2020-10690 · published 8 May 2020

CVE-2020-10690: Linux kernel use after free vulnerability

Linux · Linux Kernel

There is a use-after-free in kernel versions before 5.5 due to a race condition between the release of ptp_clock and cdev while resource deallocation. When a (high privileged) process allocates a ptp device file (like /dev/ptpX) and voluntarily goes to sleep. During this time if the underlying device is removed, it can cause an exploitable condition as the process wakes up to terminate and clean all attached files. The system crashes due to the cdev structure being invalid (as already freed) which is pointed to by the inode.

6.4 CVSS 3.1 Medium EPSS 0.36% · top 72.7% CWE-416 · Use after free
6.4CVSS 3.1 base score, v2 4.4
0.36%EPSS exploitation probability, 30 days
NoNot in CISA KEV
22Affected product versions listed by NVD
12References
17 Jun 2026Last modified by NVD

Description

There is a use-after-free in kernel versions before 5.5 due to a race condition between the release of ptp_clock and cdev while resource deallocation. When a (high privileged) process allocates a ptp device file (like /dev/ptpX) and voluntarily goes to sleep. During this time if the underlying device is removed, it can cause an exploitable condition as the process wakes up to terminate and clean all attached files. The system crashes due to the cdev structure being invalid (as already freed) which is pointed to by the inode.

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

Affected products

22 vulnerable configurations from NVD's CPE data, grouped by vendor and product.

References

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Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database (record CVE-2020-10690), CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS (scores of 2026-10-01). This page is refreshed as NVD updates the record.