Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5 resctrl fs/resctrl mbm_handle_overflow/cqm_handle_limbo use after free

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. Affected by this issue is the function mbm_handle_overflow/cqm_handle_limbo of the file fs/resctrl of the component resctrl. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-93099. The attack can be launched remotely. No exploit exists. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2.5. It has been declared as very critical. This vulnerability affects the function mbm_handle_overflow/cqm_handle_limbo of the file fs/resctrl of the component resctrl. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. As an impact it is known to affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fs/resctrl: Fix UAF from worker threads when domains are removed The mbm_handle_overflow() and cqm_handle_limbo() workers read event counters and may sleep while doing so. They are scheduled via delayed_work embedded in struct rdt_l3_mon_domain. Architecture allocates and frees these domains from CPU hotplug callbacks under cpus_write_lock(), and the workers acquire cpus_read_lock() to keep the domain alive across their access. A use-after-free can occur when a worker is blocked waiting for cpus_read_lock() while the hotplug core holds cpus_write_lock(): the architecture frees the rdt_l3_mon_domain that contains the worker's work_struct. When the worker unblocks, the container_of() it performs on the embedded work pointer dereferences freed memory. Drop cpus_read_lock() from the workers and instead drain pending and in-flight work synchronously before the architecture can free the domain. Since architecture offlines the domain under cpus_write_lock() after it has been unlinked from the RCU list and a grace period has elapsed, no new work can be scheduled. The cancel only needs to wait out existing work. Drop rdtgroup_mutex during CPU offline around cancel_delayed_work_sync() so that a worker waiting on the mutex can complete before re-pinning the work on a different CPU. When offlining a CPU the architecture may iterate over resources in any order. For example, the MBA control domain may be offlined before or after a corresponding L3 monitor domain. Ensure that resctrl fs cancels the workers no matter what order the architecture offlines the domains.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-93099 since 09/17/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/17/2026).

Upgrading to version 7.2.6 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b86dbfe4583bf134932a6cc45bf25b12c10a0b2f/2566b5cd6a275c124e8f154fef6e815f92ec8d5c is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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