In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
perf: Fix refcount warning on event->mmap_count increment
When calling refcount_inc(&event->mmap_count) inside perf_mmap_rb(), the
following warning is triggered:
refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free.
WARNING: lib/refcount.c:25
PoC:
struct perf_event_attr attr = {0};
int fd = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, 0, -1, -1, 0);
mmap(NULL, 0x3000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0);
int victim = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, 0, -1, fd,
PERF_FLAG_FD_OUTPUT);
mmap(NULL, 0x3000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, victim, 0);
This occurs when creating a group member event with the flag
PERF_FLAG_FD_OUTPUT. The group leader should be mmap-ed and then mmap-ing
the event triggers the warning.
Since the event has copied the output_event in perf_event_set_output(),
event->rb is set. As a result, perf_mmap_rb() calls
refcount_inc(&event->mmap_count) when event->mmap_count = 0.
Disallow the case when event->mmap_count = 0. This also prevents two
events from updating the same user_page.
perf: Fix refcount warning on event->mmap_count increment
When calling refcount_inc(&event->mmap_count) inside perf_mmap_rb(), the
following warning is triggered:
refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free.
WARNING: lib/refcount.c:25
PoC:
struct perf_event_attr attr = {0};
int fd = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, 0, -1, -1, 0);
mmap(NULL, 0x3000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0);
int victim = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, 0, -1, fd,
PERF_FLAG_FD_OUTPUT);
mmap(NULL, 0x3000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, victim, 0);
This occurs when creating a group member event with the flag
PERF_FLAG_FD_OUTPUT. The group leader should be mmap-ed and then mmap-ing
the event triggers the warning.
Since the event has copied the output_event in perf_event_set_output(),
event->rb is set. As a result, perf_mmap_rb() calls
refcount_inc(&event->mmap_count) when event->mmap_count = 0.
Disallow the case when event->mmap_count = 0. This also prevents two
events from updating the same user_page.
Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
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Fixes
Solution
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Workaround
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References
History
Sat, 14 Feb 2026 15:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: Fix refcount warning on event->mmap_count increment When calling refcount_inc(&event->mmap_count) inside perf_mmap_rb(), the following warning is triggered: refcount_t: addition on 0; use-after-free. WARNING: lib/refcount.c:25 PoC: struct perf_event_attr attr = {0}; int fd = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, 0, -1, -1, 0); mmap(NULL, 0x3000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, fd, 0); int victim = syscall(__NR_perf_event_open, &attr, 0, -1, fd, PERF_FLAG_FD_OUTPUT); mmap(NULL, 0x3000, PROT_READ | PROT_WRITE, MAP_SHARED, victim, 0); This occurs when creating a group member event with the flag PERF_FLAG_FD_OUTPUT. The group leader should be mmap-ed and then mmap-ing the event triggers the warning. Since the event has copied the output_event in perf_event_set_output(), event->rb is set. As a result, perf_mmap_rb() calls refcount_inc(&event->mmap_count) when event->mmap_count = 0. Disallow the case when event->mmap_count = 0. This also prevents two events from updating the same user_page. | |
| Title | perf: Fix refcount warning on event->mmap_count increment | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-02-14T15:09:56.237Z
Reserved: 2026-01-13T15:37:45.970Z
Link: CVE-2026-23127
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-02-14T15:16:07.963
Modified: 2026-02-14T15:16:07.963
Link: CVE-2026-23127
Redhat
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OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses
No weakness.