CVE-2026-90013

tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening options file

Published Sep 16, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.8 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening options file

The options files do not take the trace_array reference for the options
they represent. This could cause a use-after-free kernel crash if one of
these files is opened by one task and another task removes the instance
that the option is for. Because it doesn't take a reference upon opening,
it will not stop the removal which will free the options descriptor that
is being used.

As the options are somewhat dynamic in their creation at boot up, each
file represents a flag in the trace_array. The trace_array has an array of
indexes to represent each of these flags that is stored in the
trace_flags_index array. The address of the index array element is used to
pass to the inode->i_private pointer. Then that element is read which
holds the index (which represents the flag) and then the index is used to
calculate the trace_array descriptor from its trace_flags_index array.

One issue is that the index element can not be referenced until the
trace_array's reference is taken. To handle this, create a new helper
function called: trace_array_options_get() that will iterate all the
existing trace_arrays in the ftrace_trace_arrays list (under the
trace_types_lock), and compare the passed in address of the index element
with the entire array of the trace_array's trace_flags_index array.
If it matches, then up the corresponding trace_array's reference and
return.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4850-1 linux-6.12 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6568-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9002-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9019-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9020-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9022-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9023-1 Linux kernel 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-9039-1 Linux kernel (Azure CVM) 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
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics 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
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening options file The options files do not take the trace_array reference for the options they represent. This could cause a use-after-free kernel crash if one of these files is opened by one task and another task removes the instance that the option is for. Because it doesn't take a reference upon opening, it will not stop the removal which will free the options descriptor that is being used. As the options are somewhat dynamic in their creation at boot up, each file represents a flag in the trace_array. The trace_array has an array of indexes to represent each of these flags that is stored in the trace_flags_index array. The address of the index array element is used to pass to the inode->i_private pointer. Then that element is read which holds the index (which represents the flag) and then the index is used to calculate the trace_array descriptor from its trace_flags_index array. One issue is that the index element can not be referenced until the trace_array's reference is taken. To handle this, create a new helper function called: trace_array_options_get() that will iterate all the existing trace_arrays in the ftrace_trace_arrays list (under the trace_types_lock), and compare the passed in address of the index element with the entire array of the trace_array's trace_flags_index array. If it matches, then up the corresponding trace_array's reference and return.
Title tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening options file
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

No weakness.

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Oct 30, 2026, 12:33 PM
Reserved
Sep 11, 2026, 7:38 PM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 16, 2026, 11:17 AM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:20 PM