CVE-2026-99007

drm/fb-helper: defer setup when fbdev_probe() fails, not just on -EAGAIN

Published Oct 23, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 4.7 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

drm/fb-helper: defer setup when fbdev_probe() fails, not just on -EAGAIN

__drm_fb_helper_initial_config_and_unlock() calls
drm_client_modeset_probe() first, which already fills in each
mode_set->mode/num_connectors for every connected output, and only
afterwards calls drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe() to create
fb_helper->fb and wire it into those mode_sets via
drm_setup_crtcs_fb().

If drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe() fails with anything other than
-EAGAIN (e.g. dev->driver->fbdev_probe() itself fails), the function
bails out before drm_setup_crtcs_fb() runs and before setting
fb_helper->deferred_setup. The client is left with mode_sets that
have a mode and connectors but mode_set->fb == NULL, and nothing
marks this fb_helper as needing a retry.

__drm_fb_helper_restore_fbdev_mode_unlocked() only skips committing
when fb_helper->deferred_setup is set, so a later .restore() call
(drm_lastclose() on process exit, in this report) commits the stale
mode_set through drm_client_modeset_commit() ->
drm_client_modeset_commit_atomic() -> __drm_atomic_helper_set_config(),
which hits WARN_ON(!set->fb).

Mark fb_helper->deferred_setup on any drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe()
failure, not just -EAGAIN, so restore keeps skipping the commit until
a later hotplug event successfully re-probes and re-populates
mode_set->fb. The real error code is still returned to the caller
unchanged.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9018-2 Linux kernel (HWE) 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
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-9091-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-390
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-617
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 4.7, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Linux linux
Vendors & Products Linux linux
Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-390
Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/fb-helper: defer setup when fbdev_probe() fails, not just on -EAGAIN __drm_fb_helper_initial_config_and_unlock() calls drm_client_modeset_probe() first, which already fills in each mode_set->mode/num_connectors for every connected output, and only afterwards calls drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe() to create fb_helper->fb and wire it into those mode_sets via drm_setup_crtcs_fb(). If drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe() fails with anything other than -EAGAIN (e.g. dev->driver->fbdev_probe() itself fails), the function bails out before drm_setup_crtcs_fb() runs and before setting fb_helper->deferred_setup. The client is left with mode_sets that have a mode and connectors but mode_set->fb == NULL, and nothing marks this fb_helper as needing a retry. __drm_fb_helper_restore_fbdev_mode_unlocked() only skips committing when fb_helper->deferred_setup is set, so a later .restore() call (drm_lastclose() on process exit, in this report) commits the stale mode_set through drm_client_modeset_commit() -> drm_client_modeset_commit_atomic() -> __drm_atomic_helper_set_config(), which hits WARN_ON(!set->fb). Mark fb_helper->deferred_setup on any drm_fb_helper_single_fb_probe() failure, not just -EAGAIN, so restore keeps skipping the commit until a later hotplug event successfully re-probes and re-populates mode_set->fb. The real error code is still returned to the caller unchanged.
Title drm/fb-helper: defer setup when fbdev_probe() fails, not just on -EAGAIN
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, 12:40 PM
Reserved
Sep 25, 2026, 10:25 AM
Status
Received
Published
Oct 23, 2026, 1:17 PM
Modified
Oct 30, 2026, 1:21 PM
Severity
Moderate
Public date
Oct 23, 2026, 12:00 AM