CVE-2026-64426

io_uring/nop: fix file reference leak with IOSQE_FIXED_FILE

MEDIUM
5.5
CVSS Score
Published: July 25, 2026 at 08:51 AM UTC
Updated: September 4, 2026 at 03:36 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorLinux Kernel

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Severity
MEDIUM5.5
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.2%

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: io_uring/nop: fix file reference leak with IOSQE_FIXED_FILE NOP file-acquisition support choses between a fixed (registered) file and a normal fget()'d file based on its own IORING_NOP_FIXED_FILE flag in sqe->nop_flags. However, a request's REQ_F_FIXED_FILE is set independently from the generic IOSQE_FIXED_FILE sqe flag during request init, before the issue handler runs. If a NOP is submitted with IOSQE_FIXED_FILE set (so REQ_F_FIXED_FILE is set) but without IORING_NOP_FIXED_FILE, io_nop() takes the normal path and grabs a real reference via io_file_get_normal(). On completion, io_put_file() only drops the reference when REQ_F_FIXED_FILE is clear, so the fget()'d file is never released and leaks: BUG: memory leak unreferenced object 0xffff88800f42c240 (size 176): kmem_cache_alloc_noprof+0x358/0x440 alloc_empty_file+0x57/0x180 path_openat+0x44/0x1e50 do_file_open+0x121/0x200 do_sys_openat2+0xa7/0x150 __x64_sys_openat+0x82/0xf0 Decide between fixed and normal file acquisition from REQ_F_FIXED_FILE, the same way io_assign_file() does for every other opcode, and fold IORING_NOP_FIXED_FILE into REQ_F_FIXED_FILE at prep time.

Affected

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

6.13 ≤ v < 6.18.396.13 ≤ v < 7.1.46.13 ≤ v < 7.26.19 ≤ v < 7.1.46.13a85f31052bce52111b4e9d5a536003481d0421d0
Vendor states this is fixed in 2564ca2e31bd8ee8348362941af2ee4671e487ca (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 722869fcff598fad20d5ab79c305897a7534708b (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7267717f35787167fcce4bc14f6ef3fa06682dcf (fixed)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.13 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 6.18.39 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.1.4 (unaffected)
Vendor states this is fixed in 7.2 (unaffected)

CVSS

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

Quick Info

StatusANALYZED
CWE
NVD-CWE-Other

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