CVE-2026-90013: Linux kernel · tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening options file
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in f2951ebd15c36a1ea4820a7f0cbb0b5f1c028b73 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:07 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.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in f2951ebd15c36a1ea4820a7f0cbb0b5f1c028b73, d0f37d77b9b4b241e0b30ef2562f6353cbda3bec, 97ceaffbd672449ad7ead5ae8788dce16374b0c1 +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: tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening options file The options files do not take the trace_array reference for the options they represent. This could cause a use-after-free kernel crash if one of these files is opened by one task and another task removes the instance that the option is for. Because it doesn't take a reference upon opening, it will not stop the removal which will free the options descriptor that is being used. As the options are somewhat dynamic in their creation at boot up, each file represents a flag in the trace_array. The trace_array has an array of indexes to represent each of these flags that is stored in the trace_flags_index array. The address of the index array element is used to pass to the inode->i_private pointer. Then that element is read which holds the index (which represents the flag) and then the index is used to calculate the trace_array descriptor from its trace_flags_index array. One issue is that the index element can not be referenced until the trace_array's reference is taken. To handle this, create a new helper function called: trace_array_options_get() that will iterate all the existing trace_arrays in the ftrace_trace_arrays list (under the trace_types_lock), and compare the passed in address of the index element with the entire array of the trace_array's trace_flags_index array. If it matches, then up the corresponding trace_array's reference and return.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8cc9c5a8c559d655c32d2190486e89574c14ff52 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/97ceaffbd672449ad7ead5ae8788dce16374b0c1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d0f37d77b9b4b241e0b30ef2562f6353cbda3bec (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/64a41f4a9a968f54f3792399aa4d2a9fdb23b0a5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f2951ebd15c36a1ea4820a7f0cbb0b5f1c028b73 (opens in a new tab)