Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4 nouveau drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau drm_sched_fence_get_timeline_name use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.91

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. It has been declared as very critical. Impacted is the function drm_sched_fence_get_timeline_name of the file drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau of the component nouveau. Executing a manipulation can lead to use after free. This vulnerability appears as CVE-2026-98512. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as very critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. This vulnerability affects the function drm_sched_fence_get_timeline_name of the file drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau of the component nouveau. 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: drm/nouveau: RCU-free the scheduler-containing nouveau_sched struct nouveau_sched embeds a struct drm_gpu_scheduler (base). nouveau_sched_destroy() calls nouveau_sched_fini() (which does drm_sched_fini(&sched->base)) and then frees the object with plain kfree(sched). drm_sched_fence_get_timeline_name() returns fence->sched->name, and the scheduler fence keeps a .release callback so it is not ops-detached on signalling. A finished fence exported to userspace via drm_syncobj / sync_file therefore keeps pointing at &sched->base after nouveau_sched_destroy(), and a later get_timeline_name() -- reachable unprivileged through SYNC_IOC_FILE_INFO -- dereferences freed memory (KASAN slab-use-after-free read). Per the dma-fence lifetime contract the exporter must keep the data backing a signalled fence alive for an RCU grace period. Free the scheduler-containing object with kfree_rcu() instead of kfree().

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-98512 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is required for a successful exploitation. 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 10/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 40edf5eefc3fd94592a91d6eb074d4fc6f606c75/35151e9a8274174ccbb92e3b3ba7dc7a008dcada/cd6e11b6ebe04a0a1f1435df561acada9eadc563/f7eae6d8d768fabd6b59779ca7da79e02c74e113 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

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 10.0
VulDB Temp Score: 9.5
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: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

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 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: 40edf5eefc3fd94592a91d6eb074d4fc6f606c75/35151e9a8274174ccbb92e3b3ba7dc7a008dcada/cd6e11b6ebe04a0a1f1435df561acada9eadc563/f7eae6d8d768fabd6b59779ca7da79e02c74e113

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98512 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98512
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422218

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 21:06
Changes: 10/18/2026 21:06 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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