Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2 cpufreq cpufreq_policy_alloc cpus uninitialized pointer

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.8$0-$5k0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2. Impacted is the function cpufreq_policy_alloc of the component cpufreq. The manipulation of the argument cpus results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-97905. The attack needs to be approached locally. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc2. It has been classified as very critical. Affected is the function cpufreq_policy_alloc of the component cpufreq. The manipulation of the argument cpus with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cpufreq: zero-initialize policy cpumask before sysfs publication cpufreq_policy_alloc() allocates policy->cpus with alloc_cpumask_var(), i.e. without __GFP_ZERO, unlike the sibling related_cpus and real_cpus masks. With CONFIG_CPUMASK_OFFSTACK=y the mask is a separate kmalloc_node() allocation, so its bitmap holds whatever the slab allocator left behind: cpufreq_online() cpufreq_policy_alloc() alloc_cpumask_var(&policy->cpus) /* bitmap is uninitialized */ kobject_init_and_add() /* policy%u/ appears in sysfs */ cpufreq_policy_online() cpumask_copy(policy->cpus, cpumask_of(cpu)) /* first valid value */ This leaves a window in which the sysfs attributes are already reachable while policy->cpus is still garbage. show()/store() gate on policy_is_inactive(), i.e. cpumask_empty(policy->cpus), so a non-zero bitmap makes them run the attribute callbacks on a policy that is not initialized yet. Fix this by using zalloc_cpumask_var() for policy->cpus.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-97905 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Additional levels of successful authentication are necessary for exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/25/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7 or 7.3-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 0de2f3918fbbbb767e7e716178194b66560dd12a/6e166b9281dec98aed19213a84235250e5fdb081/bbc0472d2270bf732142ca71579d6ede636174ed/54d37bcf2f497140b9207968557ddb484058e749 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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Name

Version

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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

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Uninitialized pointer
CWE: CWE-824 / CWE-908
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 6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc3
Patch: 0de2f3918fbbbb767e7e716178194b66560dd12a/6e166b9281dec98aed19213a84235250e5fdb081/bbc0472d2270bf732142ca71579d6ede636174ed/54d37bcf2f497140b9207968557ddb484058e749

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 Advisory disclosed
09/25/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
09/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-97905 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-97905
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-410118

Entryinfo

Created: 09/25/2026 14:48
Changes: 09/25/2026 14:48 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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