UBUNTU-CVE-2026-98180: Use After Free
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/msm: RCU-free the scheduler-containing ring and VM objects Both struct msmringbuffer and struct msmgemvm embed a struct drmgpuscheduler. msmringbufferdestroy() and the VM free callback msmgemvmfree() call drmschedfini() on the embedded scheduler and then free the containing object with plain kfree(). drmschedfencegettimelinename() returns fence->sched->name, and the scheduler fence keeps a .release callback so it is not ops-detached on signalling. A finished fence exported to userspace (the submit out-fence, or a VMBIND fence, via syncfile / drmsyncobj) keeps pointing at the embedded scheduler after the ring/VM is freed, so a later gettimelinename() -- reachable unprivileged through SYNCIOCFILEINFO -- dereferences freed slab memory (KASAN slab-use-after-free read). Per the dma-fence lifetime contract the exporter must keep the data backing a signalled fence alive for an RCU grace period. Free the scheduler-containing objects with kfreercu() instead of kfree(). Patchwork: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/750234/
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1~24.04.1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-awsto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-gcpto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.18 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-ibmto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0to a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-oracleto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.16 - Upgrade
Upgrade
ubuntu/linux-riscvto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 7.0.0-42.42.1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is exposed to this issue?
Systems running an affected Ubuntu Linux kernel package are exposed where the MSM DRM driver is in use. Exploitation requires a local attacker with high privileges.
What access and actions are required to trigger the use-after-free?
An attacker needs to obtain an exported completed fence, such as a submit out-fence or VM_BIND fence, through sync_file or drm_syncobj. They can then invoke SYNC_IOC_FILE_INFO, which reaches the stale scheduler timeline-name pointer after the associated ring or VM object has been freed.
What is the potential impact?
The reported condition is a slab use-after-free read in the kernel. The supplied severity vector indicates low confidentiality impact and high availability impact, with no integrity impact listed.
How does the fix address the issue?
The fix frees scheduler-containing ringbuffer and VM objects with kfree_rcu() rather than plain kfree(). This preserves the memory backing signalled fences until an RCU grace period has elapsed.