CVE-2026-68416 — mtd: fix double free and WARN_ON in add_mtd_device() error paths
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mtd: fix double free and WARN_ON in add_mtd_device() error paths When device_register() or mtd_nvmem_add() fails inside add_mtd_device() for a partition, the error handling triggers mtd_release() via put_device() or device_unregister(). mtd_release() calls release_mtd_partition() which frees the mtd_info structure. However, callers such as mtd_add_partition() and add_mtd_partitions() also call free_partition() in their error paths, resulting in a double free. Additionally, release_mtd_partition() hits WARN_ON(!list_empty( &mtd->part.node)) because the partition node is still linked in the parent's partitions list when the release callback fires from the add_mtd_device() error path. Fix this by overriding dev->type and dev->release before put_device() in the error paths, so that device_release() invokes a no-op function instead of mtd_release(). For the mtd_nvmem_add() failure case, device_unregister() is replaced with device_del() to separate the device removal from the final kobject reference drop, allowing the override to take effect before put_device() is called. The callers' error paths (list_del + free_partition) remain the sole owners of mtd_info lifetime on add_mtd_device() failure, which is the expected contract. The normal partition teardown path is not affected: del_mtd_device() goes through kref_put() -> mtd_device_release() -> device_unregister() with dev->type still set to &mtd_devtype, so mtd_release() -> release_mtd_partition() continues to work correctly for the regular removal case.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+1
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ 19bfa9ebebb5ec0695def57eb1d80de7e9cab369 and < ffe21a3545b439e7b11578a701c22a847c149561≥ 19bfa9ebebb5ec0695def57eb1d80de7e9cab369 and < e1e96aca1bdf391e2f49531c270ffc134e5b49a5≥ 19bfa9ebebb5ec0695def57eb1d80de7e9cab369 and < f98ae09c727dcf34f745c875661c64b642e4abfa≥ 19bfa9ebebb5ec0695def57eb1d80de7e9cab369 and < 820f983d641937a787e841ee4b93501f69f5683e≥ 19bfa9ebebb5ec0695def57eb1d80de7e9cab369 and < 9d4af746af8ce27eefc2338b2feaa1e01f28b6c3version 6.6≥ 93c08951d7070134b7415ca4abd0d25876aa653b and < b1f78dc4a6869e30ff64345a5d3e7da1b6da0061≥ 006764e33fe9cff72f8a68ce1dab570d93662c96 and < 1dfe90daee6080b088b65620ff690a56f59ddea2 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 15, 2026 → Oct 30, 2026 · 15 reading(s) · max 0.16%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Source status changed · → Received
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 30, 2026 – Oct 30, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
9 on the record
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-qpvq-4872-pr63
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f98ae09c727dcf34f745c875661c64b642e4abfa
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1dfe90daee6080b088b65620ff690a56f59ddea2
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e1e96aca1bdf391e2f49531c270ffc134e5b49a5
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1f78dc4a6869e30ff64345a5d3e7da1b6da0061
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ffe21a3545b439e7b11578a701c22a847c149561
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/820f983d641937a787e841ee4b93501f69f5683e
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d4af746af8ce27eefc2338b2feaa1e01f28b6c3
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-68416
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Unknown CVE-2026-99216 Drivers: hv: Don't reset VMBus connection state on error/exit paths 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99215 power: supply: core: prevent unregistering a power supply while a callback runs 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99207 scsi: target: Disable interrupts while holding delayed_cmd_lock 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99208 drm/xe/oa: Zero OA buffer at allocation 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99209 drm/xe: skip eviction of a BO with no resource 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-99210 accel/rocket: clear rdev on device init failure 2d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-68416 is "mtd: fix double free and WARN_ON in add_mtd_device() error paths", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.16% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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