In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
vfio/pci: clear vdev->msi_perm after freeing it on init failure
vfio_msi_cap_len() lazily allocates the per-device MSI permission table:
vdev->msi_perm = kmalloc_obj(struct perm_bits, GFP_KERNEL_ACCOUNT);
if (!vdev->msi_perm)
return -ENOMEM;
ret = init_pci_cap_msi_perm(vdev->msi_perm, len, flags);
if (ret) {
kfree(vdev->msi_perm);
return ret; /* vdev->msi_perm left dangling */
}
When init_pci_cap_msi_perm() -> alloc_perm_bits() fails with -ENOMEM, the
error path frees vdev->msi_perm but leaves the freed pointer stored in
it. vdev->msi_perm is not re-zeroed later because struct
vfio_pci_core_device is per-device and persists across open/close cycles,
and the vfio_config_init() error path returns without calling
vfio_config_free(). So the dangling pointer outlives the failed open.
That leads to two use-after-frees on the same device:
1. Reuse. The next vfio_config_init() sees the stale pointer at
"if (vdev->msi_perm) return len;" and reuses the freed object. MSI
config accesses in vfio_pci_config_rw_single() then dereference and
call the freed perm->readfn / perm->writefn function pointers.
2. Double free. A later vfio_config_free() runs free_perm_bits() and
kfree() on the already-freed object.
Fix it by NULLing vdev->msi_perm after the kfree(), matching the
NULL-after-free discipline already used in free_perm_bits() and
vfio_config_free().
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961)
Read of size 8 at addr ffff88800fcc88d0 by task exploit/143
Call Trace:
...
kasan_report (mm/kasan/report.c:595)
vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961)
vfio_pci_config_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1986)
vfio_pci_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:1599)
vfs_read (fs/read_write.c:572)
__x64_sys_pread64 (fs/read_write.c:764)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
...
Followed on device close by a double free of the same object:
Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address
0x1f63e0e8000008: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI
RIP: 0010:kfree (mm/slub.c:6711)
Call Trace:
vfio_config_free (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1861)
vfio_pci_core_disable (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:685)
vfio_pci_core_close_device (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:777)
vfio_df_close (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:602)
vfio_device_fops_release (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:648)
__fput (fs/file_table.c:512)
__x64_sys_close (fs/open.c:1496)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
...
Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception
vfio/pci: clear vdev->msi_perm after freeing it on init failure
vfio_msi_cap_len() lazily allocates the per-device MSI permission table:
vdev->msi_perm = kmalloc_obj(struct perm_bits, GFP_KERNEL_ACCOUNT);
if (!vdev->msi_perm)
return -ENOMEM;
ret = init_pci_cap_msi_perm(vdev->msi_perm, len, flags);
if (ret) {
kfree(vdev->msi_perm);
return ret; /* vdev->msi_perm left dangling */
}
When init_pci_cap_msi_perm() -> alloc_perm_bits() fails with -ENOMEM, the
error path frees vdev->msi_perm but leaves the freed pointer stored in
it. vdev->msi_perm is not re-zeroed later because struct
vfio_pci_core_device is per-device and persists across open/close cycles,
and the vfio_config_init() error path returns without calling
vfio_config_free(). So the dangling pointer outlives the failed open.
That leads to two use-after-frees on the same device:
1. Reuse. The next vfio_config_init() sees the stale pointer at
"if (vdev->msi_perm) return len;" and reuses the freed object. MSI
config accesses in vfio_pci_config_rw_single() then dereference and
call the freed perm->readfn / perm->writefn function pointers.
2. Double free. A later vfio_config_free() runs free_perm_bits() and
kfree() on the already-freed object.
Fix it by NULLing vdev->msi_perm after the kfree(), matching the
NULL-after-free discipline already used in free_perm_bits() and
vfio_config_free().
BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961)
Read of size 8 at addr ffff88800fcc88d0 by task exploit/143
Call Trace:
...
kasan_report (mm/kasan/report.c:595)
vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961)
vfio_pci_config_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1986)
vfio_pci_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:1599)
vfs_read (fs/read_write.c:572)
__x64_sys_pread64 (fs/read_write.c:764)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
...
Followed on device close by a double free of the same object:
Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address
0x1f63e0e8000008: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI
RIP: 0010:kfree (mm/slub.c:6711)
Call Trace:
vfio_config_free (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1861)
vfio_pci_core_disable (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:685)
vfio_pci_core_close_device (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:777)
vfio_df_close (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:602)
vfio_device_fops_release (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:648)
__fput (fs/file_table.c:512)
__x64_sys_close (fs/open.c:1496)
do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94)
...
Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: vfio/pci: clear vdev->msi_perm after freeing it on init failure vfio_msi_cap_len() lazily allocates the per-device MSI permission table: vdev->msi_perm = kmalloc_obj(struct perm_bits, GFP_KERNEL_ACCOUNT); if (!vdev->msi_perm) return -ENOMEM; ret = init_pci_cap_msi_perm(vdev->msi_perm, len, flags); if (ret) { kfree(vdev->msi_perm); return ret; /* vdev->msi_perm left dangling */ } When init_pci_cap_msi_perm() -> alloc_perm_bits() fails with -ENOMEM, the error path frees vdev->msi_perm but leaves the freed pointer stored in it. vdev->msi_perm is not re-zeroed later because struct vfio_pci_core_device is per-device and persists across open/close cycles, and the vfio_config_init() error path returns without calling vfio_config_free(). So the dangling pointer outlives the failed open. That leads to two use-after-frees on the same device: 1. Reuse. The next vfio_config_init() sees the stale pointer at "if (vdev->msi_perm) return len;" and reuses the freed object. MSI config accesses in vfio_pci_config_rw_single() then dereference and call the freed perm->readfn / perm->writefn function pointers. 2. Double free. A later vfio_config_free() runs free_perm_bits() and kfree() on the already-freed object. Fix it by NULLing vdev->msi_perm after the kfree(), matching the NULL-after-free discipline already used in free_perm_bits() and vfio_config_free(). BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961) Read of size 8 at addr ffff88800fcc88d0 by task exploit/143 Call Trace: ... kasan_report (mm/kasan/report.c:595) vfio_pci_config_rw_single (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1961) vfio_pci_config_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1986) vfio_pci_rw (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:1599) vfs_read (fs/read_write.c:572) __x64_sys_pread64 (fs/read_write.c:764) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94) ... Followed on device close by a double free of the same object: Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0x1f63e0e8000008: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI RIP: 0010:kfree (mm/slub.c:6711) Call Trace: vfio_config_free (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_config.c:1861) vfio_pci_core_disable (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:685) vfio_pci_core_close_device (drivers/vfio/pci/vfio_pci_core.c:777) vfio_df_close (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:602) vfio_device_fops_release (drivers/vfio/vfio_main.c:648) __fput (fs/file_table.c:512) __x64_sys_close (fs/open.c:1496) do_syscall_64 (arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:94) ... Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception | |
| Title | vfio/pci: clear vdev->msi_perm after freeing it on init failure | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
|
Projects
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-09-16T08:48:17.754Z
Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.765Z
Link: CVE-2026-89777
No data.
Status : Received
Published: 2026-09-16T09:17:08.073
Modified: 2026-09-16T09:17:08.073
Link: CVE-2026-89777
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.