CVE-2026-80579: Linux kernel · fbdev: clear fb_info->mode before deleting a videomode
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 26 Aug 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A fix has been implemented in the Linux kernel to clear fb_info->mode before deleting a videomode, preventing stale pointer dereferences. Users should update to the patched kernel versions provided by their Linux distribution vendors. Since this is a kernel vulnerability, applying official kernel updates is the recommended remediation.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: clear fb_info->mode before deleting a videomode fb_set_var() can delete a mode from info->modelist when userspace passes FB_ACTIVATE_INV_MODE through FBIOPUT_VSCREENINFO. The code checks that the mode being deleted is not the current info->var and that fbcon is not using it, but it does not check fb_info->mode. fb_info->mode may still point into the modelist entry being deleted. If the entry is freed, later mode sysfs reads through show_mode() can dereference a stale pointer. Clear fb_info->mode before calling fb_delete_videomode() when it matches the mode being removed.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-80579 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/95e647d2a5304a8fd11f1ba3c8502de700650131 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce7fef961c63229b22dec415fb988899f479d61f (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-80579 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-80579 (opens in a new tab)