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

bpf: fix crash in bpf_[set|remove]_dentry_xattr for negative dentries

bpf_set_dentry_xattr and bpf_remove_dentry_xattr BPF kfuncs attempt to
lock the inode of the supplied dentry without checking if it is
NULL. If a negative dentry is passed (e.g. from
security_inode_create), d_inode(dentry) returns NULL, and
inode_lock(inode) will cause a NULL pointer dereference.

Trivially fix this by adding a NULL check for inode before attempting
to lock it, returning -EINVAL if it is NULL.

Additionally, drop WARN_ON(!inode) in bpf_xattr_read_permission() and
bpf_xattr_write_permission(). These warnings could be triggered by
passing a negative dentry to bpf_get_dentry_xattr() or the _locked
variants of the xattr kfuncs, potentially causing a Denial of Service
on systems with panic_on_warn enabled. Instead, simply return -EINVAL.
Published: 2026-08-15
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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History

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: fix crash in bpf_[set|remove]_dentry_xattr for negative dentries bpf_set_dentry_xattr and bpf_remove_dentry_xattr BPF kfuncs attempt to lock the inode of the supplied dentry without checking if it is NULL. If a negative dentry is passed (e.g. from security_inode_create), d_inode(dentry) returns NULL, and inode_lock(inode) will cause a NULL pointer dereference. Trivially fix this by adding a NULL check for inode before attempting to lock it, returning -EINVAL if it is NULL. Additionally, drop WARN_ON(!inode) in bpf_xattr_read_permission() and bpf_xattr_write_permission(). These warnings could be triggered by passing a negative dentry to bpf_get_dentry_xattr() or the _locked variants of the xattr kfuncs, potentially causing a Denial of Service on systems with panic_on_warn enabled. Instead, simply return -EINVAL.
Title bpf: fix crash in bpf_[set|remove]_dentry_xattr for negative dentries
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: 2026-08-15T05:59:11.450Z

Reserved: 2026-08-15T05:44:03.892Z

Link: CVE-2026-74400

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T06:22:42.030

Modified: 2026-08-15T06:22:42.030

Link: CVE-2026-74400

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

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