nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem()
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: 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-416 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem() nvme_free_host_mem() frees dev->hmb_sgt via dma_free_noncontiguous() but never clears the pointer afterward. This leads to a use-after-free if nvme_free_host_mem() is called twice in the same error path. This can happen during nvme_probe() when nvme_setup_host_mem() succeeds in allocating the HMB (setting dev->hmb_sgt) but nvme_set_host_mem() fails with an I/O error: nvme_setup_host_mem() nvme_alloc_host_mem_single() -> sets dev->hmb_sgt nvme_set_host_mem() -> fails with -EIO nvme_free_host_mem() -> frees hmb_sgt, but does NOT NULL it return error nvme_probe() error path: nvme_free_host_mem() -> dev->hmb_sgt is stale, use-after-free The second call dereferences the freed sgt, causing a NULL pointer dereference in iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous() when it accesses sgt->sgl->dma_address (the backing memory has been freed and zeroed). This is reproducible on Thunderbolt-attached NVMe devices (e.g., OWC Envoy Express behind a Dell WD22TB4 dock) where the device intermittently returns I/O errors during HMB setup due to PCIe link instability. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 RIP: 0010:iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous+0x22/0x80 Call Trace: <TASK> dma_free_noncontiguous+0x3b/0x130 nvme_free_host_mem+0x30/0xf0 [nvme] nvme_probe.cold+0xcc/0x275 [nvme] local_pci_probe+0x43/0xa0 pci_device_probe+0xeea/0x290 really_probe+0xf9/0x3b0 __driver_probe_device+0x8b/0x170 driver_probe_device+0x24/0xd0 __driver_attach_async_helper+0x6b/0x110 async_run_entry_fn+0x37/0x170 process_one_work+0x1ac/0x3d0 worker_thread+0x1b8/0x360 kthread+0xf7/0x130 ret_from_fork+0x2d8/0x3a0 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK> Fix this by setting dev->hmb_sgt to NULL after freeing it, so the second call takes the multi-descriptor path which safely handles the already-cleaned-up state.
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 | 6.13 and later | 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.13 and later Fixed in 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.13 to before 6.18.34; 6.19 to before 7.0.11 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.1 rc3 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.13 to before 6.18.34; 6.19 to before 7.0.11 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.1:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.1 rc3 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.18.34, 7.0.11, 7.1
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-2026-64071
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-g774-9rm3-mcq6
- 2026-10-29 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-11-06 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
More Linux Kernel vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-26358 tls: fix handling of zero-length records on the rx_list KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2026-38352 netfilter: bridge: make ebt_snat ARP rewrite writable KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2013-05264 The (1) get_user and (2) put_user API functions in the Linux kernel before 3.5.5 on the… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2022-00125 Integer overflow in kernel KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.4
- 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-2026-64071 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-64071 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-g774-9rm3-mcq6 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-64071 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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