fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · None · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font() When fbcon_do_set_font() fails (e.g., due to a memory allocation failure inside vc_resize() under heavy memory pressure), it jumps to the `err_out` label to roll back the console state. However, the current rollback logic forgets to restore the `hi_font` state, leading to a severe state machine corruption. Earlier in the function, `set_vc_hi_font()` might be called to change `vc->vc_hi_font_mask` and mutate the screen buffer. If `vc_resize()` subsequently fails, the `err_out` path restores `vc_font.charcount` but entirely skips rolling back the `vc_hi_font_mask` and the screen buffer. This mismatch leaves the terminal in a desynchronized state. Because `vc_hi_font_mask` remains set, the VT subsystem will still accept character indices greater than 255 from userspace and write them to the screen buffer. Subsequent rendering calls (e.g., `fbcon_putcs()`) will then use these inflated indices to access the reverted, 256-character font array, leading to a deterministic out-of-bounds read and potential kernel memory disclosure. Fix this by adding the missing rollback logic for the `hi_font` mask and screen buffer in the error path.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
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 | 5.10.249 to before 5.10.261; 5.15.64 to before 5.15.212; 5.19.6 to before 5.20 | 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 5.20 | Patch available | CNA |
| Linux | Linux | 6.0 and later | 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.3, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 5.10.249 to before 5.10.261; 5.15.64 to before 5.15.212; 5.19.6 to before 5.20 Fixed in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 5.20 Patch available CNA
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.0 and later Fixed in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.3, 7.2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 7
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.10.249 to before 5.10.261; 5.15.64 to before 5.15.212; 5.19.6 to before 6.0; 6.0.1 to before 6.1.178; 6.2 to before 6.6.145; 6.7 to before 6.12.96; 6.13 to before 6.18.39; 6.19 to before 7.1.3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 rc4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 rc5 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 rc6 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 rc7 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.10.249 to before 5.10.261; 5.15.64 to before 5.15.212; 5.19.6 to before 6.0; 6.0.1 to before 6.1.178; 6.2 to before 6.6.145; 6.7 to before 6.12.96; 6.13 to before 6.18.39; 6.19 to before 7.1.3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:-:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 rc4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 rc5 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 rc6 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.0:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 rc7 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 5.20
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 5.10.261, 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.3, 7.2
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 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-53402
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-jxr7-x2hm-5g42
- 2026-10-16 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-10-19 Weakness changed · CISA ADP
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-03 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-03 CVSS score changed · Red Hat
References
Patch 8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb016bcb40c81e7b19c4ae6143babb366dae8e20
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac562193c36696513ae196171892e9338475c4bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3618a4c5b2591cfa83efe74f5b18c2d02b35c3f5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7a526fbc847f07ad3a503c7382189be5ab68574
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5bb2c696e140c399cb874def2feedf61dee27d6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/076b1aa65f77a49bce5a48a4a55a397cfcafa2b8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39815715cbcfabb16fc8c5f4a23deeda20f5df62
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fdc8c2057eea08d40ce2c8eed41ff9e451c65c2
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- TI-2013-01864 The perf_swevent_init function in kernel/events/core.c in the Linux kernel before 3.8.9… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-53402 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-53402 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-jxr7-x2hm-5g42 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-53402 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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