pstore/ram: fix buffer overflow in persistent_ram_save_old()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 4 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-122 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pstore/ram: fix buffer overflow in persistent_ram_save_old() persistent_ram_save_old() can be called multiple times for the same persistent_ram_zone (e.g., via ramoops_pstore_read -> ramoops_get_next_prz for PSTORE_TYPE_DMESG records). Currently, the function only allocates prz->old_log when it is NULL, but it unconditionally updates prz->old_log_size to the current buffer size and then performs memcpy_fromio() using this new size. If the buffer size has grown since the first allocation (which can happen across different kernel boot cycles), this leads to: 1. A heap buffer overflow (OOB write) in the memcpy_fromio() calls 2. A subsequent OOB read when ramoops_pstore_read() accesses the buffer using the incorrect (larger) old_log_size The KASAN splat would look similar to: BUG: KASAN: slab-out-of-bounds in ramoops_pstore_read+0x... Read of size N at addr ... by task ... The conditions are likely extremely hard to hit: 0. Crash with a ramoops write of less-than-record-max-size bytes. 1. Reboot: ramoops registers, pstore_get_records(0) reads old crash, allocates old_log with size X 2. Crash handler registered, timer started (if pstore_update_ms >= 0) 3. Oops happens (non-fatal, system continues) 4. pstore_dump() writes oops via ramoops_pstore_write() size Y (>X) 5. pstore_new_entry = 1, pstore_timer_kick() called 6. System continues running (not a panic oops) 7. Timer fires after pstore_update_ms milliseconds 8. pstore_timefunc() → schedule_work() → pstore_dowork() → pstore_get_records(1) 9. ramoops_get_next_prz() → persistent_ram_save_old() 10. buffer_size() returns Y, but old_log is X bytes 11. Y > X: memcpy_fromio() overflows heap Requirements: - a prior crash record exists that did not fill the record size (almost impossible since the crash handler writes as much as it can possibly fit into the record, capped by max record size and the kmsg buffer almost always exceeds the max record size) - pstore_update_ms >= 0 (disabled by default) - Non-fatal oops (system survives) Free and reallocate the buffer when the new size differs from the previously allocated size. This ensures old_log always has sufficient space for the data being copied.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 3.5 and later | 5.10.252, 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 3.5 and later Fixed in 5.10.252, 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.5.1 to before 5.10.252; 5.11 to before 5.15.202; 5.16 to before 6.1.165; 6.2 to before 6.6.128; 6.7 to before 6.12.75; 6.13 to before 6.18.14; 6.19 to before 6.19.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.5 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.5 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.5 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 3.5 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.5.1 to before 5.10.252; 5.11 to before 5.15.202; 5.16 to before 6.1.165; 6.2 to before 6.6.128; 6.7 to before 6.12.75; 6.13 to before 6.18.14; 6.19 to before 6.19.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.5 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.5 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.5 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:3.5:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 3.5 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.252, 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.14, 6.19.4, 7.0
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Not affected: 1 product
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-46253
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rwx9-m3pj-2mv2
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-11-06 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/58bda5a1d1ee98254383ef34f76b2c35140513ea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/06d2c8bd108cea503f6f6e13e47495ed1085275f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fa9a047c6a50ec80c3890dd623b85e237f0d1fd
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cff0ef043e16feb5a02307c8f9d0117a96c5587c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a6fc69a570c0780834246d52c856cc3dbc2605f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4f73486ca822305c1cf5b8ebc0b53a6ab3801a81
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7cfe964e61c0ab667abd5f5b68e0acbf783efa4f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5669645c052f235726a85f443769b6fc02f66762
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Sources
- CVE-2026-46253 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-46253 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rwx9-m3pj-2mv2 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-46253 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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