Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 memstick msb_ftl_initialize buffer overflow

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7.8	$0-$5k	0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3 and classified as very critical. The impacted element is the function msb_ftl_initialize of the component memstick. The manipulation results in buffer overflow. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-68478. The attack needs to be approached locally. There is no available exploit.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc3. It has been classified as very critical. Affected is the function msb_ftl_initialize of the component memstick. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a buffer overflow vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-120. The product copies an input buffer to an output buffer without verifying that the size of the input buffer is less than the size of the output buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: memstick: ms_block: reject a card that reports too many blocks msb_ftl_initialize() computes the zone count from the card block count with no bound: msb->zone_count = msb->block_count / MS_BLOCKS_IN_ZONE; ... for (i = 0; i < msb->zone_count; i++) msb->free_block_count[i] = MS_BLOCKS_IN_ZONE; msb->block_count is a card value. msb_read_boot_blocks() reads number_of_blocks from the card boot page and byte swaps it. free_block_count is a fixed int[MS_MAX_ZONES]. MS_MAX_ZONES is 16, so the valid indices are 0 to 15. The init loop above indexes it by zone_count. msb_mark_block_used() and msb_mark_block_unused() index it by pba / MS_BLOCKS_IN_ZONE, for pba up to block_count - 1. A card may report up to 65535 blocks. A block_count above 8192 (MS_MAX_ZONES * MS_BLOCKS_IN_ZONE) lets the pba index reach 16. That writes past free_block_count[] and corrupts struct msb_data. A larger count runs the init loop past the end too. A real Memory Stick has at most 16 zones. So it has at most 8192 blocks. msb_ftl_initialize() now rejects a card that reports more than MS_MAX_ZONES * MS_BLOCKS_IN_ZONE blocks.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-68478 since 07/30/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch a4b9961efe8640f50800811b4a2b2046b3dc2ccc/8937b11f1c3896e066c3fb07387ba17bc8c50b8a/f1c675ecf6e5ad02722f0019f729d8bb588d502e/d5db3439ee8d1c165a09a47e984c4ba508c130df/b86666ac4009a252501cc17242582a7ec9ed976e/39151f0708c84221e94cdd6aa070aba5d7cb1c01/47f0c7d856c67c9935546d2644f18c0d0131b449/718178f524b98bc920d74bc771aed823c8b81425 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.10.260
• 5.15.211
• 6.1.177
• 6.6.144
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
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• 6.12.90
• 6.12.91
• 6.12.92
• 6.12.93
• 6.12.94
• 6.12.95
• 6.12.96
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
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• 6.18.32
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4
• 7.2-rc1
• 7.2-rc2
• 7.2-rc3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.8

VulDB Base Score: 8.2
VulDB Temp Score: 7.8
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Buffer overflow
CWE: CWE-120 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.261/5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc4
Patch: a4b9961efe8640f50800811b4a2b2046b3dc2ccc/8937b11f1c3896e066c3fb07387ba17bc8c50b8a/f1c675ecf6e5ad02722f0019f729d8bb588d502e/d5db3439ee8d1c165a09a47e984c4ba508c130df/b86666ac4009a252501cc17242582a7ec9ed976e/39151f0708c84221e94cdd6aa070aba5d7cb1c01/47f0c7d856c67c9935546d2644f18c0d0131b449/718178f524b98bc920d74bc771aed823c8b81425

Timelineinfo

07/30/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +16 days Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-68478 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-68478
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390408

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 11:00
Changes: 08/15/2026 11:00 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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