CVE-2026-53402

fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font()

HIGH
7.1
CVSS Score
Published: July 19, 2026 at 12:02 PM UTC
Updated: October 19, 2026 at 08:19 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
HIGH7.1
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%
SSVC
No known exploit

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font() When fbcon_do_set_font() fails (e.g., due to a memory allocation failure inside vc_resize() under heavy memory pressure), it jumps to the `err_out` label to roll back the console state. However, the current rollback logic forgets to restore the `hi_font` state, leading to a severe state machine corruption. Earlier in the function, `set_vc_hi_font()` might be called to change `vc->vc_hi_font_mask` and mutate the screen buffer. If `vc_resize()` subsequently fails, the `err_out` path restores `vc_font.charcount` but entirely skips rolling back the `vc_hi_font_mask` and the screen buffer. This mismatch leaves the terminal in a desynchronized state. Because `vc_hi_font_mask` remains set, the VT subsystem will still accept character indices greater than 255 from userspace and write them to the screen buffer. Subsequent rendering calls (e.g., `fbcon_putcs()`) will then use these inflated indices to access the reverted, 256-character font array, leading to a deterministic out-of-bounds read and potential kernel memory disclosure. Fix this by adding the missing rollback logic for the `hi_font` mask and screen buffer in the error path.

Affected

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

5.10.249 ≤ v < 5.10.2615.15.64 ≤ v < 5.15.2125.19.6 ≤ v < 6.06.0.1 ≤ v < 6.1.1786.13 ≤ v < 6.18.396.19 ≤ v < 7.1.36.2 ≤ v < 6.6.1456.7 ≤ v < 6.12.965.10.2495.15.645.19.66.06.0 rc36.0 rc46.0 rc56.0 rc66.0 rc7868749a7456dc48e93887a8474194e2ee6d6c21fa5a923038d70d2d4a86cb4e3f32625a5ee6e7e24ebd6f886aa2447fcfcdce5450c9e1028e1d681bbf08ccb792d3eaf1dc62d8cbf6a30d6522329f660
Vendor states this is fixed in 076b1aa65f77a49bce5a48a4a55a397cfcafa2b8 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 3618a4c5b2591cfa83efe74f5b18c2d02b35c3f5 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 39815715cbcfabb16fc8c5f4a23deeda20f5df62 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 8fdc8c2057eea08d40ce2c8eed41ff9e451c65c2 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in a7a526fbc847f07ad3a503c7382189be5ab68574 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in ac562193c36696513ae196171892e9338475c4bc (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in b5bb2c696e140c399cb874def2feedf61dee27d6 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in cb016bcb40c81e7b19c4ae6143babb366dae8e20 (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.10.261 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 5.15.212 (unaffected)
Affected range stops below 5.20, so it looks safe — our inference, not a vendor statement
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.0 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.1.178 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.12.96 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.39 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.6.145 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1.3 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.2 (unaffected)

SSVC — Action Prioritization

SSVCNo known exploitNot automatablePartial impact

SSVC signals action urgency (what to patch first), separate from CVSS which measures severity.

CVSS

7.1HIGHLinux
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusMODIFIED
CWE
CWE-125

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