CVE-2026-72094: dma-buf: dma-fence: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
dma-buf: dma-fence: Fix potential NULL pointer dereference
The commit mentioned in the fixes tag below introduced a mechanism through which fence producers can fully decouple from fence consumers. This, desirable, mechanism is based on the fence's signaled-bit as the "decoupling point".
A sophisticated interaction between RCU and atomic instructions attempts to ensure that fence consumers can still interact with fence producers through the dmafenceops (callback pointers into the producer).
This is the desired behavior: to check for decoupling, the signaled-bit is first checked. If it's not yet signaled, RCU ensures that the ops pointer cannot yet be NULL.
Hereby, dmafencesignaltimestamplocked() first sets the signaled-bit, and then sets the ops pointer to NULL. Readers first load the ops pointer, and then check through the signaled-bit whether the pointer can legally be accessed.
These set and load operations could occur out of order on weakly ordered platforms. This problem can be solved very elegantly by using the ops pointer itself as the synchronization point. The pointer is either NULL, or cannot become NULL while it is being used thanks to RCU.
Replace the signaled-bit check in dmafencetimelinename() and dmafencedrivername().
Affected Software
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-72094?
CVE-2026-72094 has a risk rating of 12, indicating a critical severity level.
How do I fix CVE-2026-72094?
To fix CVE-2026-72094, it is recommended to apply the latest patch from the Linux kernel that addresses the NULL pointer dereference.
What systems are affected by CVE-2026-72094?
CVE-2026-72094 affects systems running vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel that utilize dma-buf and dma-fence functionalities.
What type of vulnerability is CVE-2026-72094?
CVE-2026-72094 is classified as a Null Pointer Dereference vulnerability.
When was CVE-2026-72094 published?
CVE-2026-72094 was published on August 15, 2026.