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

nfsd: block non-SAVEFH ops after FOREIGN PUTFH to prevent NULL deref

When CONFIG_NFSD_V4_2_INTER_SSC is enabled, nfsd4_putfh() can return
success with fh_dentry and fh_export both NULL if fh_verify() returns
nfserr_stale and putfh->no_verify is true. The NFSD4_FH_FOREIGN flag
is set, but the compound dispatch loop only uses this flag to bypass
the nfserr_nofilehandle check -- it does not prevent subsequent ops
from running with a NULL fh_dentry.

A remote client can exploit this by crafting a COMPOUND that includes
an inter-SSC COPY (which causes check_if_stalefh_allowed() to set
no_verify=true on the saved PUTFH) with an additional op inserted
between the source PUTFH and SAVEFH. For example, SETATTR calls
fh_want_write() which dereferences fh_export->ex_path.mnt without
calling fh_verify() first, causing a NULL pointer dereference in the
nfsd kthread.

Fix this by gating the dispatch loop: when NFSD4_FH_FOREIGN is set
and fh_dentry is NULL, only OP_SAVEFH (needed for the inter-SSC flow)
and ops with ALLOWED_WITHOUT_FH (which don't need a resolved
filehandle) may proceed. All other ops receive nfserr_stale, per
RFC 7862 Section 15.2.3 which specifies that foreign filehandle
validation is deferred to the consuming operation and NFS4ERR_STALE
returned at that point.
Published: 2026-09-11
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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History

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 23:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nfsd: block non-SAVEFH ops after FOREIGN PUTFH to prevent NULL deref When CONFIG_NFSD_V4_2_INTER_SSC is enabled, nfsd4_putfh() can return success with fh_dentry and fh_export both NULL if fh_verify() returns nfserr_stale and putfh->no_verify is true. The NFSD4_FH_FOREIGN flag is set, but the compound dispatch loop only uses this flag to bypass the nfserr_nofilehandle check -- it does not prevent subsequent ops from running with a NULL fh_dentry. A remote client can exploit this by crafting a COMPOUND that includes an inter-SSC COPY (which causes check_if_stalefh_allowed() to set no_verify=true on the saved PUTFH) with an additional op inserted between the source PUTFH and SAVEFH. For example, SETATTR calls fh_want_write() which dereferences fh_export->ex_path.mnt without calling fh_verify() first, causing a NULL pointer dereference in the nfsd kthread. Fix this by gating the dispatch loop: when NFSD4_FH_FOREIGN is set and fh_dentry is NULL, only OP_SAVEFH (needed for the inter-SSC flow) and ops with ALLOWED_WITHOUT_FH (which don't need a resolved filehandle) may proceed. All other ops receive nfserr_stale, per RFC 7862 Section 15.2.3 which specifies that foreign filehandle validation is deferred to the consuming operation and NFS4ERR_STALE returned at that point.
Title nfsd: block non-SAVEFH ops after FOREIGN PUTFH to prevent NULL deref
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-11T19:46:15.030Z

Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.750Z

Link: CVE-2026-89696

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-11T20:19:56.717

Modified: 2026-09-11T20:19:56.717

Link: CVE-2026-89696

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

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Weaknesses

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