CVE-2026-46294: dm: fix a buffer overflow in ioctl processing
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
dm: fix a buffer overflow in ioctl processing
Tony Asleson (using Claude) found a buffer overflow in dm-ioctl in the function retrievestatus:
1. The code in retrievestatus checks that the output string fits into the output buffer and writes the output string there 2. Then, the code aligns the "outptr" variable to the next 8-byte boundary: outptr = alignptr(outptr); 3. The alignment doesn't check overflow, so outptr could point past the buffer end 4. The "for" loop is iterated again, it executes: remaining = len - (outptr - outbuf); 5. If "outptr" points past "outbuf + len", the arithmetics wraps around and the variable "remaining" contains unusually high number 6. With "remaining" being high, the code writes more data past the end of the buffer
Luckily, this bug has no security implications because: 1. Only root can issue device mapper ioctls 2. The commonly used libraries that communicate with device mapper (libdevmapper and devicemapper-rs) use buffer size that is aligned to 8 bytes - thus, "outptr = alignptr(outptr)" can't overshoot the input buffer and the bug can't happen accidentally
Affected Software
Remediation
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-46294?
CVE-2026-46294 has a risk score of 22, indicating a high severity level.
How do I fix CVE-2026-46294?
To fix CVE-2026-46294, you should update to the patched version of the Linux kernel that addresses the buffer overflow.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-46294?
CVE-2026-46294 affects systems running the Linux device-mapper (dm) component of the Linux kernel.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-46294?
CVE-2026-46294 is categorized as a buffer overflow vulnerability in ioctl processing.
Who discovered CVE-2026-46294?
CVE-2026-46294 was discovered by Tony Asleson while using the Claude tool.