Quick answer
Direct answer
Risk scores
| CVSS metric | What it means |
|---|---|
| Attack vector (AV:L) | Local access needed |
| Attack complexity (AC:L) | Low complexity |
| Privileges required (PR:N) | No privileges required |
| User interaction (UI:N) | No user interaction |
| Scope (S:U) | Scope unchanged |
| Confidentiality (C:L) | Low confidentiality impact |
| Integrity (I:L) | Low integrity impact |
| Availability (A:H) | High availability impact |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:H
About Redhat Hardened Images
CVE-2026-71226 affects Redhat Hardened Images, a product from Redhat. Before acting, confirm where Redhat Hardened Images runs in your estate, who owns it and whether it is reachable from the internet, because exposure decides real risk more than the score alone.
What the flaw is
In plain terms: Memory Corruption via Uncanceled AIO Requests on Error: libkcapi's one-shot AIO path can return an error before all submitted IOCBs are drained, allowing later kernel writes into caller-owned output buffers.
The weakness class is Use After Free. Memory is used after it was released, which can lead to code execution.
Based on its CVSS vector, the flaw needs local or adjacent access, needs no login, and needs no user interaction. Apply the vendor fix and confirm exposure on internet facing and business critical assets first.
Affected versions and timeline
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Product | Redhat Hardened Images |
| Affected versions | Hardened Images all listed versions; Openshift Container Platform 4.0; Libkcapi from 0.12.0 before 1.5.1; Enterprise Linux 8.0; Enterprise Linux 9.0; Enterprise Linux 10.0 |
| Published | Aug 5, 2026 |
| Last modified | Sep 21, 2026 |
| Added to CISA KEV | Not listed |
| Assigning CNA | secalert@redhat.com |
How to detect it
- Inventory every instance of Redhat Hardened Images and record the running version against the affected range above.
- Check external attack surface scans for internet facing instances of the component.
- Review logs on affected systems for unusual requests, errors or new processes around the vulnerable function.
- Confirm with an authenticated vulnerability scan once your scanner has a check for this CVE.
How to fix it
- Apply the fixed version of Redhat Hardened Images named in the vendor advisory.
- If patching must wait, restrict network access to the affected service and put it behind authentication or a web application firewall rule.
- Rescan after the change to prove the exposure is gone, then close the ticket.
CTEM action plan
| CTEM stage | What to do for this CVE |
|---|---|
| Scope | Add every business service that depends on Redhat Hardened Images to the current CTEM cycle. |
| Discover | Find all instances, including shadow and cloud deployments, and record versions and exposure. |
| Prioritize | Rank using EPSS and CVSS together with asset exposure and business impact. |
| Validate | Confirm the flaw is reachable and exploitable in your environment and that compensating controls work. |
| Mobilize | Assign the fix to the asset owner with a due date matched to the priority, then verify closure. |
CWE References
- CWE-416: Use After Free More CVEs with this weakness
Technical References
Frequently asked questions
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