CVE-2025-38209
CriticalCVSS 9.8Exploitation Probability (EPSS)
Low risk24th percentile - higher than 24% of all known CVEs
Summary
In the Linux kernel, a vulnerability in the nvme-tcp driver causes a use-after-free bug due to improper tag set management during the second admin queue configuration. The first call succeeds, but the second fails without removing the tag set, leading to access to freed memory.
Risk Assessment
An attacker could exploit this to access freed kernel memory, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system crash (DoS). This is especially critical in production environments using NVMe over TCP.
Recommendation
Immediately update the Linux kernel to a version containing the fix (commit 104d0e2f6222). If an update is not possible, temporarily disable secure concatenation in NVMe configuration.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
See all- CVE-2026-90049Unknown
In the Linux kernel, a vulnerability in skb_zerocopy() was fixed: it incorrectly called skb_tx_error() on the source skb when copying frags. This completed the zerocopy uarg and cleared the SKBFL_SHARED_FRAG flag on an skb still in use by the network stack. Specifically on the OVS_ACTION_ATTR_USERSPACE path, the skb was not freed on error, which could lead to ESP data being decrypted in place where the skb did not privately own frags, potentially causing data corruption or other issues.
- CVE-2026-90046Unknown
In the Linux kernel, free_pages_nolock() uses spin_trylock() in NMI context on uniprocessor (UP) systems, which is unsafe. The bug affects the page freeing path and can crash the kernel. It is likely exploitable by local attackers for privilege escalation.
- CVE-2026-90045Unknown
In the Linux kernel USB gadget ffs driver, the io_data structure stores a pointer to the submitting task's mm_struct but does not hold a reference while async requests are pending. This can cause a use-after-free if the task exits before completion handling finishes. The fix takes a reference with mmgrab() when queuing and releases it with mmdrop() on completion.
- CVE-2026-90044Unknown
In the Linux kernel USB gadget f_fs driver, a use-after-free exists in the AIO error path. When ffs_epfile_io() fails with an error other than -EIOCBQUEUED, the io_data structure is freed, but the kiocb cancel function remains armed and points to the freed pointer. A concurrent cancel (e.g., sys_io_cancel()) can cause a use-after-free. The fix safely disarms the cancellation via kiocb->ki_complete() and returns -EIOCBQUEUED.
- CVE-2026-90043Unknown
In the Linux kernel zram module, the slot lock bit is set in the wrong position on 64-bit big-endian systems. Instead of landing in the flags field, it lands in ac_time, so with ZRAM_TRACK_ENTRY_ACTIME enabled, storing the access time wipes out the held lock bit and lets another CPU take the same slot lock. An access time value with that bit set can make the slot appear locked forever. The fix shifts the lock bit into the flags half on big-endian 64-bit.
- CVE-2026-90042Unknown
A vulnerability was found in the Linux kernel's Ceph filesystem where ceph_fname_to_usr() passed vmalloc() buffers to the fscrypt crypto API, which requires linear memory. This can cause kernel oopses, especially on non-x86 platforms. The fix adds support for vmalloc() buffers using a bounce buffer.
- CVE-2026-90041Unknown
In the Linux kernel, the HID sony driver fails to remove a controller from the device list when HID core input device registration fails. The devres-managed sony_sc is freed while its list node remains linked, leading to use-after-free when the next matching controller is handled.
- CVE-2026-90039Unknown
In the Linux kernel, NFSD admin state-revocation handlers (unlock_filesystem, NFSD_CMD_UNLOCK_FILESYSTEM, NFSD_CMD_UNLOCK_EXPORT) only check nn->nfsd_serv, which is set before nn->conf_id_hashtbl is allocated. This leads to a NULL dereference when the server has not yet started.
- CVE-2026-90038Unknown
In the Linux kernel, nfsd4_revoke_export_states() drops nn->client_lock but the held stateid reference does not pin the client. A concurrent client teardown can free the client while revoke_one_stid() still dereferences it, causing a use-after-free.
- CVE-2026-90037Unknown
In the Linux kernel, an nfs4_openowner left on nn->close_lru holds only a raw pointer to its nfs4_client. When the laundromat reaps entries, drops client_lock and calls nfs4_put_stid(), a concurrent force_expire_client() can free the client, causing a use-after-free.
Original NVD description (English source)
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-tcp: remove tag set when second admin queue config fails Commit 104d0e2f6222 ("nvme-fabrics: reset admin connection for secure concatenation") modified nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() to call nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() twice. The first call prepares for DH-CHAP negotitation, and the second call is required for secure concatenation. However, this change triggered BUG KASAN slab-use-after- free in blk_mq_queue_tag_busy_iter(). This BUG can be recreated by repeating the blktests test case nvme/063 a few times [1]. When the BUG happens, nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() fails in the call chain below: nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() nvme_tcp_alloc_ctrl() new=true ... Alloc nvme_tcp_ctrl and admin_tag_set nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() new=true nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=true ... Succeed nvme_alloc_admin_tag_set() ... Alloc the tag set for admin_tag_set nvme_stop_keep_alive() nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() remove=false nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() new=false nvme_tcp_alloc_admin_queue() ... Fail, but do not call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() nvme_uninit_ctrl() nvme_put_ctrl() ... Free up the nvme_tcp_ctrl and admin_tag_set The first call of nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() succeeds with new=true argument. The second call fails with new=false argument. This second call does not call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() on failure, due to the new=false argument. Then the admin tag set is not removed. However, nvme_tcp_create_ctrl() assumes that nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() would call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set(). Then it frees up struct nvme_tcp_ctrl which has admin_tag_set field. Later on, the timeout handler accesses the admin_tag_set field and causes the BUG KASAN slab-use-after-free. To not leave the admin tag set, call nvme_remove_admin_tag_set() when the second nvme_tcp_configure_admin_queue() call fails. Do not return from nvme_tcp_setup_ctrl() on failure. Instead, jump to "destroy_admin" go-to label to call nvme_tcp_teardown_admin_queue() which calls nvme_remove_admin_tag_set().

