CVE-2026-74633

tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal

Published Aug 22, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal

A module-only event filter such as ":mod:foo" is cached with a NULL
event_mod->match when foo has not been loaded. If a later write tries to
remove a specific match from the same module, remove_cache_mod() passes
the NULL cached match to strcmp(), causing a NULL pointer dereference.

The issue can be reproduced from userspace:

echo ':mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' > /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event
echo '!foo_bar:mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' >> /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event

The second write must be a concatenation (">>") to not include O_TRUNC as
that would cause ftrace_clear_events() to clear the cached modules lines.

The crash was reproduced on x86_64 QEMU while KUnit workers contended on
the event tracing path:

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
#PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
RIP: 0010:strcmp+0x10/0x30
Call Trace:
__ftrace_set_clr_event_nolock+0x373/0x4a0
ftrace_set_clr_event+0xf0/0x180
ftrace_event_write+0xdf/0x110
vfs_write+0xf6/0x440
ksys_write+0x68/0xe0
do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x540
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

Check event_mod->match before comparing it, consistent with the existing
NULL checks for the cached system and event fields. The mismatched removal
continues to return -EINVAL; a broad cached module filter is removed with
"!:mod:<module>".

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Low

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal A module-only event filter such as ":mod:foo" is cached with a NULL event_mod->match when foo has not been loaded. If a later write tries to remove a specific match from the same module, remove_cache_mod() passes the NULL cached match to strcmp(), causing a NULL pointer dereference. The issue can be reproduced from userspace: echo ':mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' > /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event echo '!foo_bar:mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' >> /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event The second write must be a concatenation (">>") to not include O_TRUNC as that would cause ftrace_clear_events() to clear the cached modules lines. The crash was reproduced on x86_64 QEMU while KUnit workers contended on the event tracing path: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode RIP: 0010:strcmp+0x10/0x30 Call Trace: __ftrace_set_clr_event_nolock+0x373/0x4a0 ftrace_set_clr_event+0xf0/0x180 ftrace_event_write+0xdf/0x110 vfs_write+0xf6/0x440 ksys_write+0x68/0xe0 do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x540 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f Check event_mod->match before comparing it, consistent with the existing NULL checks for the cached system and event fields. The mismatched removal continues to return -EINVAL; a broad cached module filter is removed with "!:mod:<module>".
Title tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal
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
Aug 22, 2026, 3:32 PM
Reserved
Aug 15, 2026, 5:44 AM
Status
Received
Published
Aug 22, 2026, 4:16 PM
Modified
Oct 14, 2026, 1:10 PM
Severity
Low
Public date
Aug 22, 2026, 12:00 AM