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7.8
HIGH CVSS 3.1
CVE-2026-68178
misc: nsm: pin the module while the device is open
Overview
Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: misc: nsm: pin the module while the device is open misc_open() installs a misc driver's file operations with fops_get(), which pins file_operations::owner before replacing the file's f_op. The NSM misc device leaves nsm_dev_fops.owner unset, so opening /dev/nsm does not take a module reference on the nsm driver. If the driver is built as a module, an open file descriptor can therefore survive rmmod of the module that provides its ioctl callbacks. A later ioctl through that descriptor can call into unloaded module text. Set nsm_dev_fops.owner to THIS_MODULE so the misc core holds the module while any /dev/nsm file descriptor is open, matching the lifetime expectation for the installed file operations.

Details
INFO

Published Date :

Aug. 10, 2026, 1:20 p.m.

Last Modified :

Aug. 17, 2026, 5:18 a.m.

Remotely Exploit :

No

Source :

416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Impact
Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2026-68178 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Linux linux_kernel
: Total Affected Vendor : 1 | Products : 1
Scoring
CVSS Scores
The Common Vulnerability Scoring System is a standardized framework for assessing the severity of vulnerabilities in software and systems. We collect and displays CVSS scores from various sources for each CVE.
Score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Score Impact Score Source
CVSS 3.1 HIGH 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
Ensure module owner is set for misc devices to prevent use-after-free.
  • Set the module owner for misc driver file operations.
  • Ensure module is not unloaded while devices are open.
  • Update kernel to a version with the fix.
References
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2026-68178.

URL Resource
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-68178 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-68178 weaknesses.

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2026-68178 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

Results are limited to the first 20 news articles due to potential performance issues.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2026-68178 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Aug. 17, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/misc/nsm.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.8'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.8', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.101', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.42', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc5', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/misc/nsm.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}] [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/misc/nsm.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.8'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.8', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.101', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.42', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/misc/nsm.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
  • CVE Modified by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Aug. 13, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V3.1 AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    Aug. 10, 2026

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added Affected [{'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920', 'versionType': 'git'}, {'status': 'affected', 'version': 'b9873755a6c8ccfce79094c4dce9efa3ecb1a749', 'lessThan': '3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9', 'versionType': 'git'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/misc/nsm.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'unaffected'}, {'repo': 'https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/stable/linux.git', 'vendor': 'Linux', 'product': 'Linux', 'versions': [{'status': 'affected', 'version': '6.8'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '0', 'lessThan': '6.8', 'versionType': 'semver'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.12.101', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.12.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '6.18.42', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '6.18.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.1.6', 'versionType': 'semver', 'lessThanOrEqual': '7.1.*'}, {'status': 'unaffected', 'version': '7.2-rc5', 'versionType': 'original_commit_for_fix', 'lessThanOrEqual': '*'}], 'programFiles': ['drivers/misc/nsm.c'], 'defaultStatus': 'affected'}]
    Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: misc: nsm: pin the module while the device is open misc_open() installs a misc driver's file operations with fops_get(), which pins file_operations::owner before replacing the file's f_op. The NSM misc device leaves nsm_dev_fops.owner unset, so opening /dev/nsm does not take a module reference on the nsm driver. If the driver is built as a module, an open file descriptor can therefore survive rmmod of the module that provides its ioctl callbacks. A later ioctl through that descriptor can call into unloaded module text. Set nsm_dev_fops.owner to THIS_MODULE so the misc core holds the module while any /dev/nsm file descriptor is open, matching the lifetime expectation for the installed file operations.
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1996639f824ce9468395cdb7bcb8f467fa787e77
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1da310b94504d42001e9c32c43c5dc105b777e5f
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3b231f1e9990f4c21220d0a69733ce2105891ff9
    Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9e9a82d00c3d10129fc310a7547b24a679d5d920
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CVSS
Vulnerability Scoring Details
Base CVSS Score: 7.8
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
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Scope
Confidentiality Impact
Integrity Impact
Availability Impact