CVE-2026-63826

fbdev: fix use-after-free in store_modes()

Published Jul 19, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

fbdev: fix use-after-free in store_modes()

store_modes() replaces a framebuffer's modelist with modes from userspace.
On success it frees the old modelist with fb_destroy_modelist(). Two
fields still point into that freed list.

One pointer is fb_display[i].mode, the mode a console is using.
fbcon_new_modelist() moves these pointers to the new list. It only does so
for consoles still mapped to the framebuffer. An unmapped console is
skipped and keeps its stale pointer. Unbinding fbcon, for example, sets
con2fb_map[i] to -1 but leaves fb_display[i].mode set. An
FBIOPUT_VSCREENINFO ioctl with FB_ACTIVATE_INV_MODE later reaches
fbcon_mode_deleted(). That function reads the stale fb_display[i].mode
through fb_mode_is_equal(). The read is a use-after-free.

The other pointer is fb_info->mode, the current mode. It is set through
the mode sysfs attribute. store_modes() does not update fb_info->mode, so
it is left pointing into the freed list. show_mode(), the attribute's read
handler, dereferences the stale fb_info->mode through mode_string(). The
read is a use-after-free.

Clear both pointers before freeing the list. Commit a1f305893074 ("fbcon:
Set fb_display[i]->mode to NULL when the mode is released") added the
helper fbcon_delete_modelist(). It clears every fb_display[i].mode that
points into a given list. So far it is called only from the unregister
path. Call it from store_modes() too, and set fb_info->mode to NULL.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8727-1 Linux kernel (OEM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-1 Linux kernel (GCP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8760-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-2 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-3 Linux kernel (IBM) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8800-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA BaseOS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8760-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8726-4 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8728-3 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8917-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8918-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9024-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9025-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9026-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9040-1 Linux kernel (Low Latency NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9066-1 Linux kernel (HWE) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-416
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:-:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:2.6.12:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-825
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: fix use-after-free in store_modes() store_modes() replaces a framebuffer's modelist with modes from userspace. On success it frees the old modelist with fb_destroy_modelist(). Two fields still point into that freed list. One pointer is fb_display[i].mode, the mode a console is using. fbcon_new_modelist() moves these pointers to the new list. It only does so for consoles still mapped to the framebuffer. An unmapped console is skipped and keeps its stale pointer. Unbinding fbcon, for example, sets con2fb_map[i] to -1 but leaves fb_display[i].mode set. An FBIOPUT_VSCREENINFO ioctl with FB_ACTIVATE_INV_MODE later reaches fbcon_mode_deleted(). That function reads the stale fb_display[i].mode through fb_mode_is_equal(). The read is a use-after-free. The other pointer is fb_info->mode, the current mode. It is set through the mode sysfs attribute. store_modes() does not update fb_info->mode, so it is left pointing into the freed list. show_mode(), the attribute's read handler, dereferences the stale fb_info->mode through mode_string(). The read is a use-after-free. Clear both pointers before freeing the list. Commit a1f305893074 ("fbcon: Set fb_display[i]->mode to NULL when the mode is released") added the helper fbcon_delete_modelist(). It clears every fb_display[i].mode that points into a given list. So far it is called only from the unregister path. Call it from store_modes() too, and set fb_info->mode to NULL.
Title fbdev: fix use-after-free in store_modes()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 6, 2026, 4:34 PM
Reserved
Jul 19, 2026, 7:54 AM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Jul 19, 2026, 12:16 PM
Modified
Nov 12, 2026, 2:48 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Jul 19, 2026, 12:00 AM