mm: shrinker: fix NULL pointer dereference in debugfs
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-476.
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: shrinker: fix NULL pointer dereference in debugfs shrinker_debugfs_add() creates both "count" and "scan" debugfs files unconditionally. That assumes every shrinker implements both count_objects() and scan_objects(), which is not guaranteed. For example, the xen-backend shrinker sets count_objects() but leaves scan_objects() NULL, so writing to its scan file calls through a NULL function pointer and panics the kernel: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 RIP: 0010:0x0 Code: Unable to access opcode bytes at 0xffffffffffffffd6. Call Trace: <TASK> shrinker_debugfs_scan_write+0x12e/0x270 full_proxy_write+0x5f/0x90 vfs_write+0xde/0x420 ? filp_flush+0x75/0x90 ? filp_close+0x1d/0x30 ? do_dup2+0xb8/0x120 ksys_write+0x68/0xf0 ? filp_flush+0x75/0x90 do_syscall_64+0xb3/0x5b0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e The count path has the same issue in principle if a shrinker omits count_objects(). To fix it, only create "count" and "scan" debugfs files when the corresponding callbacks are present.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 6.0 and later | 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2 | Patch available | CNA |
- Linux VendorLinux Affected 6.0 and later Fixed in 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 6.0 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 7.1.4 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.2:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 rc1 | Vulnerable | Linux |
| cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.2:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* | 7.2 rc2 | Vulnerable | Linux |
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 6.0 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 7.1.4 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.2:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 rc1 Vulnerable ·Linux
- cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:7.2:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 7.2 rc2 Vulnerable ·Linux
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
Not affected: 5 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- 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-2026-64417
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fmww-fwc4-2q32
References
Patch 6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ebb45c2648b1f60715fd283700f651e05e431231
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/09d2407985b8ce3e831f9d4310fe7ac06a6b3ae9
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/36f8534f461222291a74156ab91f3ba9f09b6f93
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/006467ab932698612398f853344a7405164541f4
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b9beed2322f3538b0d2d53307062da4102b8d8d8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e30453c61e185e914fde83c650e268067b140218
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- TI-2021-05514 Heap Out-Of-Bounds Write in Netfilter IP6T_SO_SET_REPLACE KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-64417 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-64417 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fmww-fwc4-2q32 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-64417 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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