Linux Kernel up to 6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6 DAMON Sysfs access_pattern denial of service

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6. Impacted is the function access_pattern of the component DAMON Sysfs. This manipulation causes denial of service. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-23142. There is not any exploit available. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.161/6.6.121/6.12.66/6.18.6. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function access_pattern of the component DAMON Sysfs. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a denial of service vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-404. The product does not release or incorrectly releases a resource before it is made available for re-use. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm/damon/sysfs-scheme: cleanup access_pattern subdirs on scheme dir setup failure When a DAMOS-scheme DAMON sysfs directory setup fails after setup of access_pattern/ directory, subdirectories of access_pattern/ directory are not cleaned up. As a result, DAMON sysfs interface is nearly broken until the system reboots, and the memory for the unremoved directory is leaked. Cleanup the directories under such failures.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-23142 since 01/13/2026. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 299216 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23142), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.162, 6.6.122, 6.12.67 or 6.18.7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ae8ac0066b48ed957bdcab58f0d3543549c57a29/e9711bd0e64812c694a228cf58c9e6032decee54/16236b0b4a08fa3e326cf1373ef789dabdc2e30d/725d4fdaa01bd1161782081f419e1568cc7432e0/392b3d9d595f34877dd745b470c711e8ebcd225c is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (299216). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Denial of service
CWE: CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 299216
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23142

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.162/6.6.122/6.12.67/6.18.7
Patch: ae8ac0066b48ed957bdcab58f0d3543549c57a29/e9711bd0e64812c694a228cf58c9e6032decee54/16236b0b4a08fa3e326cf1373ef789dabdc2e30d/725d4fdaa01bd1161782081f419e1568cc7432e0/392b3d9d595f34877dd745b470c711e8ebcd225c

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
02/14/2026 +32 days Advisory disclosed
02/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/18/2026 +32 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23142 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23142
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-346021

Entryinfo

Created: 02/14/2026 17:53
Updated: 03/18/2026 02:16
Changes: 02/14/2026 17:53 (59), 02/17/2026 05:28 (2), 02/19/2026 10:00 (1), 03/18/2026 02:16 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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