OCTOBER 7, 2026
Live Feed
Back to database
Case File

CVE-2026-89788

CRITICAL · CVSS 9.8 EPSS 0.55%

Source: NVD + CISA KEV + EPSS · Published 2026-09-16 · Last synced 2026-10-07

CyberRota Analysis

AI-Generated

The vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ksmbd component allows for a use-after-free condition during the SMB2 tree connection process, potentially leading to memory corruption and application crashes. This issue arises when a concurrent session logoff frees a tree connection while it is still being used by the handler, which can compromise system stability and security. Administrators managing Linux systems utilizing ksmbd should prioritize this patch to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

CVE
CVE-2026-89788
Severity
CRITICAL
CVSS
9.8
EPSS
0.55%
Linux

Original NVD Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ksmbd: fix tree connection use-after-free in smb2_tree_connect() ksmbd_tree_conn_connect() publishes a new tree connection in sess->tree_conns with a single reference and returns its pointer to smb2_tree_connect(). The handler continues to initialize the object and build the response after publication. A concurrent session logoff can erase the connection and drop that reference, freeing the object while the handler still uses it. BUG: KASAN: slab-use-after-free in smb2_tree_connect+0xe3d/0xf90 smb2_tree_connect (fs/smb/server/smb2pdu.c:2872) handle_ksmbd_work process_one_work worker_thread kthread After xa_store() succeeds, take a second reference before releasing tree_conns_lock. The original reference belongs to the xarray entry and the second belongs to the creating smb2_tree_connect() handler. Keep the references balanced in every path: - On normal exit or an error after publication, smb2_tree_connect() drops its creator reference. Error cleanup also calls ksmbd_tree_conn_disconnect(), which drops the xarray reference only if it removes the exact entry. - SMB2 TREE_DISCONNECT uses the same helper to remove the entry and drop its xarray reference. The request's existing lookup reference remains owned by the request and is released by the existing cleanup. - Session LOGOFF removes each entry and drops its xarray reference. If it wins the race, later cleanup sees that the entry is gone and does not drop that reference again. To enforce this ownership, claim the disconnected state and erase the exact entry atomically under tree_conns_lock. This guarantees one drop for the xarray reference and one drop by each in-flight user, regardless of which teardown path wins. If logoff removes the entry before initialization completes, fail the connect instead of marking the detached object TREE_CONNECTED.