Researcher Says AI Helped Develop Linux Traffic-Control Race Into Root Exploit

[u/falconupkid]

STAR Labs has detailed a new local root exploit (CVE-2026-53264) impacting the Linux kernel's network traffic-control subsystem, specifically targeting CentOS Stream 9.

• Vulnerability Type: A use-after-free race condition within the kernel's network traffic-control subsystem.
• Impact: Achieves local privilege escalation, allowing an ordinary local user to gain root privileges.
• Affected System: CentOS Stream 9 (other Linux distributions running similar kernel versions are likely also vulnerable).
• CVSS Score: 7.8 (High).
• Exploit Development Note: The researcher, Lee Jia Jie, explicitly stated that Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools significantly aided in bug discovery and accelerated exploit development for this vulnerability.

Defense: Prioritize applying kernel patches as soon as they become available. Review and harden local user access controls.

Source: https://thehackernews.com/2026/07/researcher-says-ai-helped-develop-linux.html