Kernel crash via unchecked sm501fb mode copy
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Buffer overflow in Linux sm501fb from 2.6.39 allows local users to crash the kernel through an oversized Open Firmware mode string. The mode parser overwrites a static or module-parameter buffer without checking the property length, while dual CRT and PANEL setup also reuses and double-frees edid_data. The faulty path requires an SM501 framebuffer configured through Open Firmware; successful triggering interrupts the host by crashing the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Buffer overflow in Linux sm501fb from 2.6.39 allows local users to crash the kernel through an oversized Open Firmware mode string. The mode parser overwrites a static or module-parameter buffer without checking the property length, while dual CRT and PANEL setup also reuses and double-frees edid_data. The faulty path requires an SM501 framebuffer configured through Open Firmware; successful triggering interrupts the host by crashing the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74320
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-120, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 15, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.39
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <0bc3d909a49e1fd8b8c3f2160d526e672c40621d
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <47008d59c60ed896085da95f8d4dd40e1677dd3a
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <48cf0f4c6581ec90104cec9c5bf794a8bf347e30
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <9057e3f5db39f0ef0dac2f59f2bc59bf17e36c31
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <b2ff450f7f5cfc7143cab57c3ad70293ba8b822a
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <d374f76e1257ecc5d691a765c512ed2c29a44741
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <d8421e09382cfe0bd2a044c8b0a822f64855dd4e
- Affected versionversion=4295f9bf74a885da390abc49a3b42a011c1bb890 <de590cdf7efec8a0b6da90ae2ab5fc5df26810b9
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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