Kernel crash via stale GadgetFS pointer
Published Sep 16, 2026 · Updated Sep 16, 2026
A race in Linux GadgetFS allows local administrators to crash affected kernels before their listed branch fixes via a concurrent ioctl. The handler reads dev->gadget before locking dev->lock, then checks state under the lock, so a concurrent bind leaves a stale NULL pointer that gadget->ops->ioctl dereferences. Reproduction requires root access, GadgetFS and dummy HCD support, and a timed bind/ioctl race; success triggers a kernel general-protection fault and host crash.
Summary
What happened
A race in Linux GadgetFS allows local administrators to crash affected kernels before their listed branch fixes via a concurrent ioctl. The handler reads dev->gadget before locking dev->lock, then checks state under the lock, so a concurrent bind leaves a stale NULL pointer that gadget->ops->ioctl dereferences. Reproduction requires root access, GadgetFS and dummy HCD support, and a timed bind/ioctl race; success triggers a kernel general-protection fault and host crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-90020
- Published
- Sep 16, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 16, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 16, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 16, 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=0 <5.10.270
- Affected versionversion=0 <5.15.221
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.1.188
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.12.110
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.18.51
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.6.157
- Affected versionversion=0 <7.2.5
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <162178ca83c3de986900385a0477eb539f8e1a7e
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <64ec019bf9a8b12f53b9f2777d65aadb730b5a84
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <87cbf9410b12f5c2d659bb01e8ecf6517cb9f28c
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8be30959be31b4205e3bdd2e2a6221f3a2ee7ea1
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <c29a83c1ff3f06d5751f6d365b606c9f81ccc4cb
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <dd0eed9e165b1a6292f49e622e3dd0b7d99b106d
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e8219accce2f6d3502ed71f5b5e854ecf27249a6
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ebd916fdfefaacbc0e577f7037ec96b31a105e5f
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- gadget_dev_ioctl race reproducerproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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