CVE-2026-23248: perf/core: Fix refcount bug and potential UAF in perf_mmap

Published Mar 18, 2026
·
Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

perf/core: Fix refcount bug and potential UAF in perfmmap

Syzkaller reported a refcountt: addition on 0; use-after-free warning in perfmmap.

The issue is caused by a race condition between a failing mmap() setup and a concurrent mmap() on a dependent event (e.g., using output redirection).

In perfmmap(), the ringbuffer (rb) is allocated and assigned to event->rb with the mmapmutex held. The mutex is then released to perform maprange().

If maprange() fails, perfmmapclose() is called to clean up. However, since the mutex was dropped, another thread attaching to this event (via inherited events or output redirection) can acquire the mutex, observe the valid event->rb pointer, and attempt to increment its reference count. If the cleanup path has already dropped the reference count to zero, this results in a use-after-free or refcount saturation warning.

Fix this by extending the scope of mmapmutex to cover the maprange() call. This ensures that the ring buffer initialization and mapping (or cleanup on failure) happens atomically effectively, preventing other threads from accessing a half-initialized or dying ring buffer.

Affected Software

5 affected componentsFixes available
linux/kernel
Microsoft azl3 kernel 6.6.126.1-1
Linux Linux kernel>=6.14<6.18.17
Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.7
Linux Linux kernel=7.0-rc1

Event History

Mar 18, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·10:05 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·10:05 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via NVD·11:16 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Mar 19, 2026
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·08:03 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
Updated
via Microsoft·08:03 AM
DescriptionSeverity
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-23248?

CVE-2026-23248 has been classified with moderate severity due to the potential for a use-after-free condition in the Linux kernel.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-23248?

To fix CVE-2026-23248, you should apply the latest patches provided in the Linux kernel updates.

3

What are the main consequences of CVE-2026-23248?

The main consequences of CVE-2026-23248 include a potential denial of service or execution of arbitrary code due to the use-after-free vulnerability.

4

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2026-23248?

CVE-2026-23248 affects various versions of the Linux kernel where the perf_mmap functionality is utilized.

5

How can I determine if my system is vulnerable to CVE-2026-23248?

You can determine if your system is vulnerable to CVE-2026-23248 by checking for the presence of the specific kernel versions listed in the vulnerability announcements.

Contact

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