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Response snapshot Nov 2, 2026, 17:11 UTC

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VulnerabilityCVE-2026-99224

Linux kernel: keys: Protect the type name while describing a key

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: keys: Protect the type name while describing a key keyctl_describe_key() must keep the key type's name alive until kasprintf() has consumed it.

At a glance

Exploited
Not known
Severity
7.0 High (CVSS 3.1)
Chance of exploitation
Not estimated
Sources
1 source

What to do

Check the vendor advisory for affected versions and fixes.

Read NVD CVE-2026-99224 (opens a new tab)

What happened

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

keys: Protect the type name while describing a key

keyctl_describe_key() must keep the key type's name alive until kasprintf() has consumed it. The retained key reference keeps the key and its description alive, but does not pin the module providing its type. The name is passed to kasprintf() without holding key->sem.

kvasprintf() uses the saved name pointer in two formatting passes, with a GFP_KERNEL allocation between them. With AF_RXRPC=m, a task that passes View permission before type retirement can overlap a privileged module unload in this order:

Continue reading

1. KEYCTL_DESCRIBE looks up the key, saves key->type->name in the kasprintf() arguments and completes the first formatting pass. 2. While the formatter is delayed before its second pass, af_rxrpc_exit() calls unregister_key_type(), which removes the type from the registry and waits for key_gc_keytype(). 3. The collector takes key->sem for writing, retypes the retained key to key_type_dead and completes retirement.

Unregistration and module exit return, allowing free_module() to release the type and name. 4. The formatter resumes its second pass and reads the saved name from released module storage, which can fault in string().

Hold key->sem for reading across kasprintf(). The collector then cannot retype the key or complete retirement until both formatting passes have finished. If retirement wins the lock first, formatting uses the core key_type_dead name instead. Release the semaphore immediately after kasprintf(), including on allocation failure, before copying to userspace.

Oops report as below:

BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: fffffbfff8054794 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0000) - not-present page RIP: 0010:string+0x23f/0x470 Call Trace: vsnprintf+0x330/0x1110

Scores and how they were measured

CVSS base severity

7.0

Version 3.1As of

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Measurement source (opens a new tab)

How bad it is if exploited. Not a prediction of exploitation or proof you are exposed.

EPSS probability

Not available

A model's estimate of exploitation in the next 30 days, not certainty or your own risk.

Related technology

Sources

  1. Primary source

    NVD CVE-2026-99224 (opens a new tab)

    NVD record: description, CVSS (the CNA score is preferred), affected products, and publication date. Not evidence of exploitation.

    Published Checked

  2. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

  3. Primary source

    NVD CVE API 2.0 (opens a new tab)

    The NVD API page that supplied this CVE record.

    Published Date not suppliedChecked

Cite this record

For factual claims, cite the primary sources above; cite KEVWire for its compilation, dates, and classifications.

APA

KEVWire. (2026, November 2). Linux kernel: keys: Protect the type name while describing a key (CVE-2026-99224). https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-99224

MLA

"Linux kernel: keys: Protect the type name while describing a key (CVE-2026-99224)." KEVWire, 2 Nov. 2026, kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-99224.

Chicago

KEVWire. "Linux kernel: keys: Protect the type name while describing a key (CVE-2026-99224)." Last modified November 2, 2026. https://kevwire.com/record/CVE-2026-99224.

Evidence summary (plain text)

Linux kernel: keys: Protect the type name while describing a key (Nov 2, 2026).
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

keys: Protect the type name while describing a key

keyctl_describe_key() must keep the key type's name alive until
kasprintf() has consumed it. The retained key reference keeps the key
and its description alive, but does not pin the module providing its
type. The name is passed to kasprintf() without holding key->sem.

kvasprintf() uses the saved name pointer in two formatting passes, with
a GFP_KERNEL allocation between them.
CVSS 7.0 (version 3.1; evidence as of Nov 2, 2026; https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-99224).
Sources:
NVD CVE-2026-99224: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-99224
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-02T15:36:06.356Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-02T17:10:56.063Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=0
NVD CVE API 2.0: https://services.nvd.nist.gov/rest/json/cves/2.0?lastModStartDate=2026-11-02T15:01:12.608Z&lastModEndDate=2026-11-02T16:35:57.586Z&resultsPerPage=500&startIndex=500
Record ID: CVE-2026-99224.
Record origin: Ingested record.
AI evidence: Not assessed.
Known exploitation: Not assessed.
Zero-day status: Not assessed. KEV membership alone does not establish zero-day status.
About this data

This record was ingested from a data source. Retrieved: Nov 2, 2026, 17:10 UTC. Ingestion is not an independent editorial investigation.

NVD status: Received. Publication in the NVD is not evidence of exploitation.

A CISA KEV listing documents known exploitation, not necessarily a zero-day; absence from the catalog does not prove a vulnerability has never been exploited.

Technology tags indicate possible relevance, not verified exposure. Confirm the affected product, version, and configuration against your own inventory; KEVWire does not scan your systems.

A personal reading checklist on this device, not verified remediation.

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Record details

Record detail