CVE-2026-97933 — tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening a tracer options file
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening a tracer options file When a tracer option file is opened, it is passed a descriptor that points to an element on the trace_array's topts array. This element has information to find the trace array and other information. It uses this element to take a reference of the trace_array so that the trace_array does not get removed while this file is opened. Unfortunately, there's a race condition where the element itself could be freed by the removal of the instance the trace_array represents causing a use-after-free as this element that is used to find the trace_array to increment its reference counter is also freed when the instance is removed. To solve this, add a trace_array_tracer_options_get() helper function that will take the address of the element that is passed to the open function by the inode->i_private pointer and search all the trace_arrays under a lock to find the one that the element's address is in the range of the trace_arrays topts array elements. When a match happens, that trace_array's reference would be increased. Note, there's a race where if an admin was deleting and creating trace instances at the same time and the memory of the old trace_array's array matched the memory of the new trace_array that it could in theory open the option from the wrong trace array. But we do not care because it would be stupid to perform that kind of action. As long as the only thing that can happen is that the option from the wrong trace array is used and doesn't crash the kernel it will only make the user confused. But if they are doing something stupid like this, they are already confused, so no harm done.
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 |
≥ 7e2cfbd2d3c86afcd5c26b5c4b1dd251f63c5838 and < b2890064a12efbeb3b3c093e69e9010dd244c881≥ 7e2cfbd2d3c86afcd5c26b5c4b1dd251f63c5838 and < d9232a90c6f7de822177d35d73d9234cba523ef9≥ 7e2cfbd2d3c86afcd5c26b5c4b1dd251f63c5838 and < b2fb87d29ffb3a7a9ccc5acf12898ecb80587427≥ 7e2cfbd2d3c86afcd5c26b5c4b1dd251f63c5838 and < ed0aff60f83a9bdc2f6556376ac79c96b3ce7e80version 952e477f908048145a5eb2ed3d431d9efc1e1073version b3183f5f05cd867f5c17122773ca5aa8d07b51afversion bf38c1d29f8bfe9631b62a67f8dd1b8f7efb7139version 2617afde0c3db285778734b0ccad9a55b4f9cda2 and 7 moreversion 586787a0331aa2d7d244e9c4400d2a73295b0cf0≥ 5.4.257 and < 5.5≥ 5.10.197 and < 5.11≥ 5.15.133 and < 5.16≥ 6.1.55 and < 6.2≥ 6.5.5 and < 6.6version 6.6 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
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
- 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 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
6 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b2fb87d29ffb3a7a9ccc5acf12898ecb80587427
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d9232a90c6f7de822177d35d73d9234cba523ef9
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b2890064a12efbeb3b3c093e69e9010dd244c881
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed0aff60f83a9bdc2f6556376ac79c96b3ce7e80
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-47xm-6cxx-cm4j
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97933
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 10h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 10h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98431 RDMA/uverbs: Fix mmap_lock/disassociation_lock circular dependency 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98430 RDMA/efa: Keep admin queues alive while IRQ is registered 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98429 RDMA/efa: Keep EQ resources alive while IRQ is registered 1d
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-2026-97933 is "tracing: Take trace_array reference when opening a tracer options file", 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 0.20% 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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