CVE-2026-72135: tpm: Make the TPM character devices non-seekable

Published Aug 15, 2026
·
Updated

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

tpm: Make the TPM character devices non-seekable

The TPM character devices expose a sequential command/response interface, but their open handlers leave FMODEPREAD and FMODEPWRITE enabled.

After a command leaves a response pending, pread(fd, buf, 16, 0x1400) passes 0x1400 as off to tpmcommonread(). The transfer length is bounded by responselength, but the offset is used unchecked when forming databuffer + off. A sufficiently large offset therefore causes an out-of-bounds heap read through copytouser() and, if the copy succeeds, an out-of-bounds zero-write through the following memset().

Positional I/O does not provide coherent semantics for this interface. An arbitrary pread offset cannot represent how much of a response has been consumed sequentially. The write callback always stores a command at the start of databuffer, while pwrite() does not update file->fpos and can leave the sequential read cursor stale.

Call nonseekableopen() from both open handlers. This removes FMODEPREAD and FMODEPWRITE, causing positional reads and writes to fail with -ESPIPE before reaching the TPM callbacks, and explicitly marks the files non-seekable. Normal read() and write() continue to use the existing sequential fpos cursor, leaving the response state machine unchanged.

Tested on Linux 6.12 with KASAN and a swtpm TPM2 device:

- sequential partial reads returned the complete response - pread() and preadv() with offset 0x1400 returned -ESPIPE - pwrite() and pwritev() with offset zero returned -ESPIPE - the pending response remained intact after the rejected operations - a subsequent normal command/response cycle completed normally - no KASAN report was produced.

Affected Software

1 affected component
Linux Kernel

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Configuration

    Update the Linux kernel so that the TPM character devices (tpm character devices) are made non-seekable by ensuring the open handlers do not leave FMODE_PREAD and FMODE_PWRITE enabled; this makes positional reads/writes (pread/pwrite with arbitrary offsets) fail with -ESPIPE before reaching TPM callbacks and prevents unchecked offset handling in tpm_common_read/tpm_common_write.

    Linux kernel TPM character devices file mode flags (FMODE_PREAD and FMODE_PWRITE) / non-seekable open behavior = Disable positional I/O by leaving files non-seekable (no FMODE_PREAD/FMODE_PWRITE)

Event History

Aug 15, 2026
CVE Published
via MITRE·05:53 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·05:53 AM
Description
Data Sourced
via NVD·06:21 AM
Description
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2026-72135?

The severity of CVE-2026-72135 is rated as 47.

2

How do I fix CVE-2026-72135?

To fix CVE-2026-72135, ensure that your Linux kernel is updated to the latest version that addresses this vulnerability.

3

What are the implications of CVE-2026-72135?

The implications of CVE-2026-72135 include potential security risks related to the improper handling of TPM character devices.

4

What systems are affected by CVE-2026-72135?

CVE-2026-72135 affects systems running the vulnerable versions of the Linux kernel that utilize TPM character devices.

5

Is CVE-2026-72135 under active exploitation?

As of now, there are no confirmed reports of CVE-2026-72135 being actively exploited in the wild.

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