Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46299)
Summary
Vulnerability in Linux kernel (CVE-2026-46299). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Original description
The description as published by the source.
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
hfsplus: fix held lock freed on hfsplus_fill_super()
hfsplus_fill_super() calls hfs_find_init() to initialize a search
structure, which acquires tree->tree_lock. If the subsequent call to
hfsplus_cat_build_key() fails, the function jumps to the out_put_root
error label without releasing the lock. The later cleanup path then
frees the tree data structure with the lock still held, triggering a
held lock freed warning.
Fix this by adding the missing hfs_find_exit(&fd) call before jumping
to the out_put_root error label. This ensures that tree->tree_lock is
properly released on the error path.
The bug was originally detected on v6.13-rc1 using an experimental
static analysis tool we are developing, and we have verified that the
issue persists in the latest mainline kernel. The tool is specifically
designed to detect memory management issues. It is currently under active
development and not yet publicly available.
We confirmed the bug by runtime testing under QEMU with x86_64 defconfig,
lockdep enabled, and CONFIG_HFSPLUS_FS=y. To trigger the error path, we
used GDB to dynamically shrink the max_unistr_len parameter to 1 before
hfsplus_asc2uni() is called. This forces hfsplus_asc2uni() to naturally
return -ENAMETOOLONG, which propagates to hfsplus_cat_build_key() and
exercises the faulty error path. The following warning was observed
during mount:
=========================
WARNING: held lock freed!
7.0.0-…
Source: NIST National Vulnerability Database NVD GitHub Advisory
Auto-generated summary
Assembled by SecPulse from the source data (CVSS, CWE, affected versions) using templates — no AI involved. Check the original description and references below for exact details.
A vulnerability tracked as CVE-2026-46299 has been found in Linux kernel.
Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover. CVSS score: 7.0/10.
What to do: apply the vendor's official patched release.
If unsure, ask your IT team or search "Linux kernel CVE-2026-46299" on the vendor's site.
CVE-2026-46299 (Linux kernel) — CWE-667 / CVSS v3 7.0
Attack vector: local / no user interaction
Plan: 1) Audit SBOM/dependencies, 2) Stage→prod upgrade, 3) Add WAF/proxy monitoring on affected endpoints, 4) Hunt IOCs in logs.
Refs: see the GHSA / vendor advisory / patched release linked on this page.
A vulnerability (CWE-667) exists in Linux kernel.
Check the vendor advisory for the affected versions of Linux kernel.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.0/10). Successful exploitation can lead to full system takeover.
Update to the patched release per vendor advisory.
Until the patch is applied: disable the affected feature, apply WAF rules, or restrict access via network ACLs.
Search webserver/proxy logs for unusual request patterns matching this CVE's known IOCs. Audit SBOM/dependencies to find affected services.
Response actions
Concrete steps and command examples for SOC/SRE teams to execute in order
-
1Identify exposure identify
Audit SBOM/dependencies for affected components.資産台帳・SBOM・依存マニフェストで Linux kernel を使っているサービスとバージョンを洗い出す。
-
2Post-deployment verification verify
Confirm patched version is live in productionパッチ適用後、ステージングで PoC または同等の悪用パターンを再現して脆弱性が閉じたことを確認。本番ではアクセスログ・WAF でアラート再発が無いか継続監視。
Affected packages
Fix status by distribution
Fixed packages published by each distribution for this CVE
- BellSoft Alpaquita BELL-CVE-2026-46299 linux-lts Fixed in: 6.1.177-r0
- Debian DEBIAN-CVE-2026-46299 linux
- Ubuntu UBUNTU-CVE-2026-46299 linux
References
- advisory nvd.nist.gov
- advisory github.com
- package git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web github.com
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org
- web git.kernel.org