CVE-2026-90234

NFS: Return a delegation the client fails to record

Published Sep 17, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 7.5 High EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

NFS: Return a delegation the client fails to record

When an NFS server grants a delegation in an OPEN reply,
nfs_inode_set_delegation() records it on the client. However, three
of its error flows return without sending DELEGRETURN.

A delegation can be relinquished only by DELEGRETURN (RFC 8881
Section 20.2.4), so dropping one silently leaves the server believing
the client still holds it. If the server happens to recall that
delegation, the client answers CB_RECALL with NFS4ERR_BADHANDLE
because it has no record of the stateid. The server revokes the
delegation and moves it onto its cl_revoked list, because the client
never sends the FREE_STATEID that would drain it. Every subsequent
SEQUENCE reply then carries SEQ4_STATUS_RECALLABLE_STATE_REVOKED,
and the client's state manager loops issuing TEST_STATEID across its
delegations without ever clearing the condition.

The window is easy to reach now that a server offers a write
delegation on any write OPEN: a delegation recalled for one opener
races a re-open that the server answers with a fresh write
delegation.

Instead of dropping it, hand the delegation back during these error
flows.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4904-1 linux-6.12 security update
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-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-773
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-892
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-892
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: NFS: Return a delegation the client fails to record When an NFS server grants a delegation in an OPEN reply, nfs_inode_set_delegation() records it on the client. However, three of its error flows return without sending DELEGRETURN. A delegation can be relinquished only by DELEGRETURN (RFC 8881 Section 20.2.4), so dropping one silently leaves the server believing the client still holds it. If the server happens to recall that delegation, the client answers CB_RECALL with NFS4ERR_BADHANDLE because it has no record of the stateid. The server revokes the delegation and moves it onto its cl_revoked list, because the client never sends the FREE_STATEID that would drain it. Every subsequent SEQUENCE reply then carries SEQ4_STATUS_RECALLABLE_STATE_REVOKED, and the client's state manager loops issuing TEST_STATEID across its delegations without ever clearing the condition. The window is easy to reach now that a server offers a write delegation on any write OPEN: a delegation recalled for one opener races a re-open that the server answers with a fresh write delegation. Instead of dropping it, hand the delegation back during these error flows.
Title NFS: Return a delegation the client fails to record
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
Oct 30, 2026, 12:34 PM
Reserved
Sep 11, 2026, 7:38 PM
Status
Received
Published
Sep 17, 2026, 5:17 PM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:20 PM