Linux Kernel up to 6.18.56/7.2.10 drm/xe xe_bo_account_unpin use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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9.5$5k-$25k0.42-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.56/7.2.10. It has been classified as very critical. This affects the function xe_bo_account_unpin of the component drm/xe. Performing a manipulation results in use after free. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-98999. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as very critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.56/7.2.10. This affects the function xe_bo_account_unpin of the component drm/xe. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/xe: Fix stale pinned_link entry when fb-pin performs the final unpin xe_bo_pin_external() and xe_bo_unpin_external() maintain the bo's pinned_link list membership in xe->pinned.late.external, based on whether the current call is the outermost pin or the final unpin. However, the same external bo's pin_count can also be raised and lowered directly by __xe_pin_fb_vma()/__xe_unpin_fb_vma(), which pin the bo as a display scanout buffer without going through xe_bo_pin_external()/xe_bo_unpin_external() at all, and have no notion of, or ownership over, pinned_link. If a bo is pinned both externally (e.g. dma-buf export) and as an fb, and the external unpin happens first, xe_bo_unpin_external() correctly observes pin_count > 1 and leaves the bo on pinned_link. When the fb unpin later performs the true last unpin (pin_count 1 -> 0), it never touches pinned_link, leaving the bo linked on xe->pinned.late.external indefinitely. Once the bo is subsequently freed, this stale list entry points into freed memory, corrupting the list and risking a use-after-free the next time the list is walked or spliced. The backup object pin/unpin sites in xe_bo_notifier_prepare_pinned()/ xe_bo_notifier_unprepare_pinned() have the same bypass characteristic, though they never add their bo to a pinned list, so are not affected by this particular list-corruption issue. Move the pinned_link removal into xe_bo_account_unpin(), which already runs on every unpin path (kernel, external, framebuffer, backup object) right before the true 1 -> 0 pin_count transition. Since list_del_init() only operates on the node itself, this removal is list-agnostic and safe to perform regardless of which list (external or kernel_bo_present) the bo happens to be linked on, or which code path is performing the final unpin. Drop the now-redundant explicit list_del_init() calls in xe_bo_unpin_external() and xe_bo_unpin(). v2: - New patch v3: - Rebased on changes to previous patch. (cherry picked from commit ca58d36a1f93af586ee93b340c9f9fd81312cc01)

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-98999 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $5k-$25k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/23/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.57 or 7.2.11 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3a11adcfd9a2de74d405bd3e8c4d7a1b328e4684/b3eaff982839e5c22912d604cd8e7748cece8d63/cf238c067eaae1cbfb00738e29219b9568d2313e 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: 9.9
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 9.5

VulDB Base Score: 9.9
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 6.18.57/7.2.11
Patch: 3a11adcfd9a2de74d405bd3e8c4d7a1b328e4684/b3eaff982839e5c22912d604cd8e7748cece8d63/cf238c067eaae1cbfb00738e29219b9568d2313e

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/23/2026 +28 days Advisory disclosed
10/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98999 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98999
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-425829

Entryinfo

Created: 10/23/2026 15:36
Changes: 10/23/2026 15:36 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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