CVE-2026-23162
Unknown Unknown - Not Provided
Double-Free Vulnerability in Linux Kernel drm/xe/nvm Component

Publication date: 2026-02-14

Last updated on: 2026-03-18

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/xe/nvm: Fix double-free on aux add failure After a successful auxiliary_device_init(), aux_dev->dev.release (xe_nvm_release_dev()) is responsible for the kfree(nvm). When there is failure with auxiliary_device_add(), driver will call auxiliary_device_uninit(), which call put_device(). So that the .release callback will be triggered to free the memory associated with the auxiliary_device. Move the kfree(nvm) into the auxiliary_device_init() failure path and remove the err goto path to fix below error. " [ 13.232905] ================================================================== [ 13.232911] BUG: KASAN: double-free in xe_nvm_init+0x751/0xf10 [xe] [ 13.233112] Free of addr ffff888120635000 by task systemd-udevd/273 [ 13.233120] CPU: 8 UID: 0 PID: 273 Comm: systemd-udevd Not tainted 6.19.0-rc2-lgci-xe-kernel+ #225 PREEMPT(voluntary) ... [ 13.233125] Call Trace: [ 13.233126] <TASK> [ 13.233127] dump_stack_lvl+0x7f/0xc0 [ 13.233132] print_report+0xce/0x610 [ 13.233136] ? kasan_complete_mode_report_info+0x5d/0x1e0 [ 13.233139] ? xe_nvm_init+0x751/0xf10 [xe] ... " v2: drop err goto path. (Alexander) (cherry picked from commit a3187c0c2bbd947ffff97f90d077ac88f9c2a215)
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Meta Information
Published
2026-02-14
Last Modified
2026-03-18
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2026-02-14
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-14
NVD
CVE-2026-23162
EUVD
EUVD-2026-5874
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 10 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel 6.17
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel 6.19
linux linux_kernel From 6.17.1 (inc) to 6.18.9 (exc)
linux linux_kernel 6.17
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-415 The product calls free() twice on the same memory address.
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability is a double-free error in the Linux kernel's drm/xe/nvm component. It occurs when the system attempts to free the same memory twice during the initialization and failure handling of an auxiliary device. Specifically, after a successful auxiliary_device_init(), the release callback frees the memory. However, if auxiliary_device_add() fails, the failure path also triggers a release callback that frees the same memory again, causing a double-free.

The fix involved moving the memory free operation (kfree) into the failure path of auxiliary_device_init() and removing the erroneous error handling path that caused the double-free.

Impact Analysis

A double-free vulnerability in the kernel can lead to undefined behavior, including system crashes, memory corruption, and potential escalation of privileges. Exploiting this flaw could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by crashing the system.

Compliance Impact

I don't know

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability manifests as a double-free error in the Linux kernel module xe_nvm, which can be detected by kernel debugging tools that monitor memory errors.

Specifically, kernel logs may show KASAN (Kernel Address Sanitizer) reports indicating a double-free in xe_nvm_init, with messages similar to:

  • [ 13.232911] BUG: KASAN: double-free in xe_nvm_init+0x751/0xf10 [xe]
  • [ 13.233112] Free of addr ... by task systemd-udevd/273

To detect this on your system, you can check the kernel logs using commands such as:

  • dmesg | grep -i kasan
  • journalctl -k | grep -i kasan

Additionally, enabling KASAN in your kernel configuration and running workloads that trigger the xe_nvm driver may help reproduce and detect the issue.

Mitigation Strategies

The immediate mitigation is to update the Linux kernel to a version that includes the fix for this vulnerability.

The fix involves correcting the double-free error by moving the memory free operation into the failure path of auxiliary_device_init() and removing the erroneous error goto path.

Until the kernel is updated, you may consider disabling or unloading the xe_nvm kernel module if it is not required, to prevent triggering the vulnerable code.

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