CVE-2026-90002: Linux kernel · ftrace: Take trace_array reference before accessing its ftrace_ops
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in cee8f286794df916553d8d445eac5c323ec5b0f8 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 6% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in cee8f286794df916553d8d445eac5c323ec5b0f8, 9100191e5acb2e5ea2313f436667bb5fce129f47, 29266da8ee1d9be656b1f22460c49538e1930658 +2
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 16 Sep 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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ftrace: Take trace_array reference before accessing its ftrace_ops The trace instance files set_ftrace_filter and set_ftrace_notrace was updated to work with specific trace instances (trace_arrays). The issue is that when these files are opened, there is a small race window where it will use the ftrace_ops from the inode->private pointer to get a reference to the trace_array and then take its reference. The problem is that the ftrace_ops itself could be freed. If the rmdir on the instance happens at the same time the set_ftrace_filter file is opened, the rmdir could have also freed the ftrace_ops and referencing it will cause a use-after-free bug and crash the kernel. Instead, pass in the trace_array as the file private data (NULL for the top level instance), and then pass both the trace_array and the ftrace_ops to the ftrace_regex_open() function. If the trace_array is NULL, then it just uses the ftrace_ops without the need to take its reference (like normal). If the ftrace_ops is NULL, that is only the case for the top level instance and the global_ops can be used. This allows the trace_array to have its reference incremented before touching the ftrace_ops that could also be freed when the instance is.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/29266da8ee1d9be656b1f22460c49538e1930658 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/177cd8966325f0ffffa3c9381f9e0422019a3973 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/83fd7eca5ab0d3ac3f23bff889175d847e21af06 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cee8f286794df916553d8d445eac5c323ec5b0f8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9100191e5acb2e5ea2313f436667bb5fce129f47 (opens in a new tab)