CVE-2026-52990

fsnotify: fix inode reference leak in fsnotify_recalc_mask()

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: June 24, 2026 at 04:29 PM UTC
Updated: October 30, 2026 at 01:19 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.1%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fsnotify: fix inode reference leak in fsnotify_recalc_mask() fsnotify_recalc_mask() fails to handle the return value of __fsnotify_recalc_mask(), which may return an inode pointer that needs to be released via fsnotify_drop_object() when the connector's HAS_IREF flag transitions from set to cleared. This manifests as a hung task with the following call trace: INFO: task umount:1234 blocked for more than 120 seconds. Call Trace: __schedule schedule fsnotify_sb_delete generic_shutdown_super kill_anon_super cleanup_mnt task_work_run do_exit do_group_exit The race window that triggers the iref leak: Thread A (adding mark) Thread B (removing mark) ────────────────────── ──────────────────────── fsnotify_add_mark_locked(): fsnotify_add_mark_list(): spin_lock(conn->lock) add mark_B(evictable) to list spin_unlock(conn->lock) return /* ---- gap: no lock held ---- */ fsnotify_detach_mark(mark_A): spin_lock(mark_A->lock) clear ATTACHED flag on mark_A spin_unlock(mark_A->lock) fsnotify_put_mark(mark_A) fsnotify_recalc_mask(): spin_lock(conn->lock) __fsnotify_recalc_mask(): /* mark_A skipped: ATTACHED cleared */ /* only mark_B(evictable) remains */ want_iref = false has_iref = true /* not yet cleared */ -> HAS_IREF transitions true -> false -> returns inode pointer spin_unlock(conn->lock) /* BUG: return value discarded! * iput() and fsnotify_put_sb_watched_objects() * are never called */ Fix this by deferring the transition true -> false of HAS_IREF flag from fsnotify_recalc_mask() (Thread A) to fsnotify_put_mark() (thread B).

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

5.10.220 ≤ v < 5.115.15.154 ≤ v < 5.165.19 ≤ v < 6.12.916.13 ≤ v < 6.18.336.19 ≤ v < 7.0.104f145b67c075324b13d6ae7d5abb6e7a1dbac26d5.10.2205.15.1547.17.1 rc1c3638b5b13740fa31762d414bbce8b7a694e582aff34ebaa6f6dc1eebce6a8d6f12a1566f33d00fe
Vendor states this is fixed in 4aca914ac152f5d055ddcb36704d1e539ac08977 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5c80289503da3658e3df80280598c68d181eadbd (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 8c8afa6444e6bdc145d2bf2f3aeeca6da3e36b42 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b740cc86816bbc87902ae9db74cd21abde3c8d63 (fixed)
Affected range stops below 5.11, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Affected range stops below 5.16, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.19 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.91 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.33 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.160 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.0.10 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1 (unaffected)

CVSS

Attack Vector
LOCAL
Complexity
LOW
Privileges
LOW
User Interaction
NONE
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
NONE
Integrity
NONE
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
NVD-CWE-Other

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