---
id: "CVE-2026-15466"
kind: "vulnerability"
aliases: ["CVE-2026-15466"]
title: "NVIDIA GPU driver: race condition lets local user corrupt kernel memory"
severity: "unknown"
cvss: null
epss: null
exploited: false
status: "open"
category: "infrastructure"
products: []
ecosystems: []
tags: ["gpu-driver", "infrastructure", "linux", "multi-user-hosts"]
not_affected_if: ["no-gpu", "no-untrusted-local-users"]
published_at: "2026-10-30T02:17:08+00:00"
first_seen_at: "2026-10-30T02:28:05+00:00"
updated_at: "2026-10-30T02:30:15+00:00"
sources: [{"source": "nvd", "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-15466", "first_seen_at": "2026-10-30T02:28:05+00:00"}]
---

# NVIDIA GPU driver: race condition lets local user corrupt kernel memory

A race condition in the GPU driver's hardware performance counter buffer destruction path can decrement a reference counter non-atomically. This lets other code use a freed object to read and write kernel heap memory.

_Summary, check and fix written by a model from the sources; labelled as such._

## Timeline

- 2026-10-30T02:28:05+00:00 nvd https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-15466

## From the sources

Software installed and run as a non-privileged user may conduct improper GPU system calls to cause race condition in hardware performance counters buffer’s destruction path leading to read and/or write UAF.



The race condition in the destruction path could lead to reference counter being decremented in non-atomical way allowing other code paths using a freed object to read and/or write kernel heap memory.

---

_Free to read at a human pace. An API with keys and an MCP server are in preparation; early access: hello@infrastack.ai_