CVE-2026-99019
scsi: ch: Do not keep references to data transfer element devices
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: ch: Do not keep references to data transfer element devices ch_readconfig() looks up the scsi_device of every data transfer element whose SCSI id the changer reports in READ ELEMENT STATUS, and stores it in ch->dt[]. scsi_device_lookup() takes a reference, and nothing ever drops it: ch_destroy() frees the array with kfree(). ch->dt[] is read nowhere else - it only supplies the vendor, model and revision printed in the same loop. Once such a drive is removed, its scsi_device can never be released. It stays on the host's device list at its address, so a new device there is refused by anything that walks the list - target_core_pscsi reports "scsi_device_get() failed for H:C:T:L" - and the low-level driver's module can no longer be unloaded. Only a reboot recovers. It shows with any changer that reports its drives' ids; with the mhvtl virtual library (IBM 3573-TL personality), each create and remove of a library with four drives leaves four references behind, counted by the module's use count in lsmod. With ch not bound the count is unchanged, and with this patch applied it is unchanged too. Drop the reference as soon as the name has been printed, and remove the now unused dt[] array. That also removes the array leaked when ch_probe() fails after ch_readconfig(). The same leak was reported with an RFC patch in 2022, which was not merged.
INFO
Published Date :
Oct. 23, 2026, 1:17 p.m.
Last Modified :
Oct. 23, 2026, 1:17 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Solution
- Update the Linux kernel to the resolved version.
- Verify device references are correctly managed.
- Ensure kernel modules can be unloaded.
- Reboot the system if necessary.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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CVE-2026-99019.
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While CVE identifies
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associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
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stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-99019
weaknesses.
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The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
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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.
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New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Oct. 23, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: scsi: ch: Do not keep references to data transfer element devices ch_readconfig() looks up the scsi_device of every data transfer element whose SCSI id the changer reports in READ ELEMENT STATUS, and stores it in ch->dt[]. scsi_device_lookup() takes a reference, and nothing ever drops it: ch_destroy() frees the array with kfree(). ch->dt[] is read nowhere else - it only supplies the vendor, model and revision printed in the same loop. Once such a drive is removed, its scsi_device can never be released. It stays on the host's device list at its address, so a new device there is refused by anything that walks the list - target_core_pscsi reports "scsi_device_get() failed for H:C:T:L" - and the low-level driver's module can no longer be unloaded. Only a reboot recovers. It shows with any changer that reports its drives' ids; with the mhvtl virtual library (IBM 3573-TL personality), each create and remove of a library with four drives leaves four references behind, counted by the module's use count in lsmod. With ch not bound the count is unchanged, and with this patch applied it is unchanged too. Drop the reference as soon as the name has been printed, and remove the now unused dt[] array. That also removes the array leaked when ch_probe() fails after ch_readconfig(). The same leak was reported with an RFC patch in 2022, which was not merged. Added Affected New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/99xxx/CVE-2026-99019.json">CVE-2026-99019</a> Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1d35a17f1c2ed4154731895694a1a3557f0da766 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/27c0f718d3b3c99e6d315308e95d987d0382a8a8 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a34a230ccea1b8b667ae59dca11295a2c8f81738 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cef2cedb6f7a394b278775b3d6ffb9b20ecd61db Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ec6ecab1b7577ae555ee6b81480814d123dd9ec0