CVE-2026-68179: misc: nsm: only unlock nsm_dev on post-lock error paths

Published Aug 10, 2026
·
Updated

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

misc: nsm: only unlock nsmdev on post-lock error paths

nsmdevioctl() jumps to the common out label even when the initial copyfromuser() fails before nsm->lock has been taken. The error path then blindly unlocks a mutex that was never acquired.

This issue was found by our static analysis tool and then manually reviewed against the current tree.

The grounded PoC kept the miscdevice ioctl entry and the pre-lock copyfromuser(&raw, argp, IOCSIZE(cmd)) failure path by issuing NSMIOCTLRAW with an invalid user pointer. That failure reaches the shared out label before mutexlock(&nsm->lock). Lockdep reported:

WARNING: bad unlock balance detected! exploit/193 is trying to release lock (&globalnsm.lock) at: nsmdevioctl+0x5f/0xcf [vulnmsv] but there are no more locks to release! no locks held by exploit/193.

Return immediately on the pre-lock copyfromuser() failure and keep the common unlock label for the post-lock paths only.

Affected Software

162 affected componentsFixes available
Linux Kernel
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*
ubuntu/linux-gcp*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*
ubuntu/linux-hwe*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*
ubuntu/linux-oem*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-gke*
ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop*
ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-raspi2*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*
ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*
ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*
ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-147.147
6.8.0-147.147
ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1067.70
6.8.0-1067.70
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1071.79
6.8.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1069.76
6.8.0-1069.76
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0<7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1071.79
6.8.0-1071.79
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1066.74
6.8.0-1066.74
ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1052.56
6.8.0-1052.56
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1067.68
6.8.0-1067.68
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-147.147.1
6.8.0-147.147.1
ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1036.39
6.8.0-1036.39
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*
ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1064.67
6.8.0-1064.67
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-riscv*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
ubuntu/linux-xilinx*
ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1033.38
6.8.0-1033.38
ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1062.63
6.8.1-1062.63
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*
ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*
ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-147.147+fips1
6.8.0-147.147+fips1
ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-38.38
7.0.0-38.38
ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1014.14
7.0.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1017.17
7.0.0-1017.17
ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1016.16
7.0.0-1016.16
ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1014.14
7.0.0-1014.14
ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1008.9
7.0.0-1008.9
ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1015.15
7.0.0-1015.15
ubuntu/linux-nvidia*
ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1015.15
7.0.0-1015.15
ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1013.13
7.0.0-1013.13
ubuntu/linux-raspi*
ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-38.38.1
7.0.0-38.38.1
ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-38.38.1
7.0.0-38.38.1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147
  2. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
  3. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
  4. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
  5. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
  6. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76
  7. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
  8. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
  9. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
  10. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74
  11. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56
  12. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
  13. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68
  14. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1
  15. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1036.39
  16. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67
  17. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
  18. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
  19. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38
  20. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63
  21. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
  22. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
  23. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1
  24. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
  25. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38
  26. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
  27. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
  28. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16
  29. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
  30. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1008.9
  31. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
  32. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
  33. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13
  34. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
  35. Upgrade

    Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
  36. Compensating control

    In nsm_dev_ioctl(), return immediately when the pre-lock copy_from_user(&raw, argp, _IOC_SIZE(cmd)) fails, and use the common unlock label only for error paths after mutex_lock(&nsm->lock) has been acquired.

Event History

Aug 10, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·11:59 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·11:59 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Data Sourced
via OSV·01:20 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Data Sourced
via NVD·01:20 PM
DescriptionSeverity

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-68179?

The severity of CVE-2026-68179 is rated as 5.

2

How does CVE-2026-68179 affect the Linux kernel?

CVE-2026-68179 affects the Linux kernel by potentially allowing a mutex to be unlocked incorrectly in the nsm_dev_ioctl() function.

3

What are the implications of exploiting CVE-2026-68179?

Exploiting CVE-2026-68179 could lead to instability or security issues related to the improper handling of mutexes.

4

How do I fix CVE-2026-68179?

To fix CVE-2026-68179, ensure that you apply the latest patches or updates provided for the Linux kernel.

5

When was CVE-2026-68179 published?

CVE-2026-68179 was published on August 10, 2026.

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