Linux Kernel up to 7.0.9 arm_mpam __destroy_component_cfg null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 7.0.9. This impacts the function __destroy_component_cfg of the component arm_mpam. Such manipulation of the argument cfg leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-53278. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.0.9. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function __destroy_component_cfg of the component arm_mpam. The manipulation of the argument cfg with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. Impacted is availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm_mpam: Check whether the config array is allocated before destroying it __destroy_component_cfg() is called to free the configuration array. It uses the embedded 'garbage' structure, which means the array has to be allocated. If __destroy_component_cfg() is called from mpam_disable() before the configuration was ever allocated, then a NULL pointer is dereferenced. Check for this case and return early if the configuration is not allocated. __destroy_component_cfg() also frees the mbwu_state as this is allocated by __allocate_component_cfg(). As the mbwu_state is allocated after comp->cfg is set, and is also under mpam_list_lock, only the first pointer needs checking.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-53278 since 06/09/2026. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 7.0.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8eb6dc76eeae5302c0d885906a0e469ef9630a59/6ccbb613b42a1f1ba7bfd547a148f644a902a25c 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.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3
• 7.0.4
• 7.0.5
• 7.0.6
• 7.0.7
• 7.0.8
• 7.0.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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