Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.3 fsnotify fanotify_mark race condition

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.2$0-$5k0.42+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.3. This affects the function fanotify_mark of the component fsnotify. The manipulation results in race condition. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-89595. The attack must be initiated from a local position. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.50/7.2.3. Affected is the function fanotify_mark of the component fsnotify. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a race condition vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-362. The product contains a code sequence that can run concurrently with other code, and the code sequence requires temporary, exclusive access to a shared resource, but a timing window exists in which the shared resource can be modified by another code sequence that is operating concurrently. This is going to have an impact on integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fsnotify: Fix stale object mask after concurrent mark updates When a mark gets a new event bit, fanotify and inotify may avoid recalculating the object mask if the cached aggregate already contains that bit. This is racy with a recalculation triggered by a concurrent update to another mark on the same connector. The concurrent scan can read the mark before the new bit is added, while the updater reads the old aggregate before that scan publishes its result. The updater then skips recalculation and the scan publishes a mask without the bit, leaving the object mask stale after both updates complete. This can be reproduced with two fanotify groups watching the same inode: one thread removes FAN_MODIFY from one existing mark while another thread adds FAN_MODIFY to the other mark. After both fanotify_mark() calls return, writes can fail to produce FAN_MODIFY for the group whose mark now contains the bit. This was reproduced on an unmodified v6.12.95 kernel. The equivalent inotify interleaving loses IN_MODIFY events. For normal fanotify additions, recalculate whenever the raw mark mask changes. The normal mask is not cleared asynchronously, so an unchanged addition cannot introduce missing interest. Always recalculate ignore-mask updates because FS_MODIFY handling may clear the ignore mask without taking mark->lock, making snapshot comparisons unreliable. Always recalculate after updating an existing inotify watch. Its replace path temporarily sets mark->mask to zero, so a concurrent scan can observe zero even when the old and final masks are equal. Assigning the replacement mask directly would avoid the transient zero, but existing-watch updates are infrequent, so unconditional recalculation is simpler.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-89595 since 09/11/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 6.18.51, 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 947400af98b9e63841929d079a2c3ea0a8ba227b/ac8d8b599d466a129122bded77db3d0f8b96b461/e422777fdd4746de1109575c51e65038d4c5c1be is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.2

VulDB Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Temp Score: 4.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Race condition
CWE: CWE-362
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.51/7.2.4/7.3-rc1
Patch: 947400af98b9e63841929d079a2c3ea0a8ba227b/ac8d8b599d466a129122bded77db3d0f8b96b461/e422777fdd4746de1109575c51e65038d4c5c1be

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 CVE reserved
09/11/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/12/2026 +0 days Advisory disclosed
09/12/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-89595 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-89595
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-402894

Entryinfo

Created: 09/12/2026 01:34
Changes: 09/12/2026 01:34 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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