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

nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem()

nvme_free_host_mem() frees dev->hmb_sgt via dma_free_noncontiguous()
but never clears the pointer afterward. This leads to a use-after-free
if nvme_free_host_mem() is called twice in the same error path.

This can happen during nvme_probe() when nvme_setup_host_mem() succeeds
in allocating the HMB (setting dev->hmb_sgt) but nvme_set_host_mem()
fails with an I/O error:

nvme_setup_host_mem()
nvme_alloc_host_mem_single() -> sets dev->hmb_sgt
nvme_set_host_mem() -> fails with -EIO
nvme_free_host_mem() -> frees hmb_sgt, but does NOT NULL it
return error

nvme_probe() error path:
nvme_free_host_mem() -> dev->hmb_sgt is stale, use-after-free

The second call dereferences the freed sgt, causing a NULL pointer
dereference in iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous() when it accesses
sgt->sgl->dma_address (the backing memory has been freed and zeroed).

This is reproducible on Thunderbolt-attached NVMe devices (e.g., OWC
Envoy Express behind a Dell WD22TB4 dock) where the device intermittently
returns I/O errors during HMB setup due to PCIe link instability.

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010
RIP: 0010:iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous+0x22/0x80
Call Trace:
<TASK>
dma_free_noncontiguous+0x3b/0x130
nvme_free_host_mem+0x30/0xf0 [nvme]
nvme_probe.cold+0xcc/0x275 [nvme]
local_pci_probe+0x43/0xa0
pci_device_probe+0xeea/0x290
really_probe+0xf9/0x3b0
__driver_probe_device+0x8b/0x170
driver_probe_device+0x24/0xd0
__driver_attach_async_helper+0x6b/0x110
async_run_entry_fn+0x37/0x170
process_one_work+0x1ac/0x3d0
worker_thread+0x1b8/0x360
kthread+0xf7/0x130
ret_from_fork+0x2d8/0x3a0
ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
</TASK>

Fix this by setting dev->hmb_sgt to NULL after freeing it, so the
second call takes the multi-descriptor path which safely handles the
already-cleaned-up state.
Published: 2026-07-19
Score: 7.0 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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History

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

 cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Moderate

Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem() nvme_free_host_mem() frees dev->hmb_sgt via dma_free_noncontiguous() but never clears the pointer afterward. This leads to a use-after-free if nvme_free_host_mem() is called twice in the same error path. This can happen during nvme_probe() when nvme_setup_host_mem() succeeds in allocating the HMB (setting dev->hmb_sgt) but nvme_set_host_mem() fails with an I/O error: nvme_setup_host_mem() nvme_alloc_host_mem_single() -> sets dev->hmb_sgt nvme_set_host_mem() -> fails with -EIO nvme_free_host_mem() -> frees hmb_sgt, but does NOT NULL it return error nvme_probe() error path: nvme_free_host_mem() -> dev->hmb_sgt is stale, use-after-free The second call dereferences the freed sgt, causing a NULL pointer dereference in iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous() when it accesses sgt->sgl->dma_address (the backing memory has been freed and zeroed). This is reproducible on Thunderbolt-attached NVMe devices (e.g., OWC Envoy Express behind a Dell WD22TB4 dock) where the device intermittently returns I/O errors during HMB setup due to PCIe link instability. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 RIP: 0010:iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous+0x22/0x80 Call Trace: <TASK> dma_free_noncontiguous+0x3b/0x130 nvme_free_host_mem+0x30/0xf0 [nvme] nvme_probe.cold+0xcc/0x275 [nvme] local_pci_probe+0x43/0xa0 pci_device_probe+0xeea/0x290 really_probe+0xf9/0x3b0 __driver_probe_device+0x8b/0x170 driver_probe_device+0x24/0xd0 __driver_attach_async_helper+0x6b/0x110 async_run_entry_fn+0x37/0x170 process_one_work+0x1ac/0x3d0 worker_thread+0x1b8/0x360 kthread+0xf7/0x130 ret_from_fork+0x2d8/0x3a0 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK> Fix this by setting dev->hmb_sgt to NULL after freeing it, so the second call takes the multi-descriptor path which safely handles the already-cleaned-up state.
Title nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-19T15:39:47.162Z

Reserved: 2026-07-19T07:54:57.031Z

Link: CVE-2026-64071

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-07-19T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-64071 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses