In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem()
nvme_free_host_mem() frees dev->hmb_sgt via dma_free_noncontiguous()
but never clears the pointer afterward. This leads to a use-after-free
if nvme_free_host_mem() is called twice in the same error path.
This can happen during nvme_probe() when nvme_setup_host_mem() succeeds
in allocating the HMB (setting dev->hmb_sgt) but nvme_set_host_mem()
fails with an I/O error:
nvme_setup_host_mem()
nvme_alloc_host_mem_single() -> sets dev->hmb_sgt
nvme_set_host_mem() -> fails with -EIO
nvme_free_host_mem() -> frees hmb_sgt, but does NOT NULL it
return error
nvme_probe() error path:
nvme_free_host_mem() -> dev->hmb_sgt is stale, use-after-free
The second call dereferences the freed sgt, causing a NULL pointer
dereference in iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous() when it accesses
sgt->sgl->dma_address (the backing memory has been freed and zeroed).
This is reproducible on Thunderbolt-attached NVMe devices (e.g., OWC
Envoy Express behind a Dell WD22TB4 dock) where the device intermittently
returns I/O errors during HMB setup due to PCIe link instability.
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010
RIP: 0010:iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous+0x22/0x80
Call Trace:
<TASK>
dma_free_noncontiguous+0x3b/0x130
nvme_free_host_mem+0x30/0xf0 [nvme]
nvme_probe.cold+0xcc/0x275 [nvme]
local_pci_probe+0x43/0xa0
pci_device_probe+0xeea/0x290
really_probe+0xf9/0x3b0
__driver_probe_device+0x8b/0x170
driver_probe_device+0x24/0xd0
__driver_attach_async_helper+0x6b/0x110
async_run_entry_fn+0x37/0x170
process_one_work+0x1ac/0x3d0
worker_thread+0x1b8/0x360
kthread+0xf7/0x130
ret_from_fork+0x2d8/0x3a0
ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
</TASK>
Fix this by setting dev->hmb_sgt to NULL after freeing it, so the
second call takes the multi-descriptor path which safely handles the
already-cleaned-up state.
nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem()
nvme_free_host_mem() frees dev->hmb_sgt via dma_free_noncontiguous()
but never clears the pointer afterward. This leads to a use-after-free
if nvme_free_host_mem() is called twice in the same error path.
This can happen during nvme_probe() when nvme_setup_host_mem() succeeds
in allocating the HMB (setting dev->hmb_sgt) but nvme_set_host_mem()
fails with an I/O error:
nvme_setup_host_mem()
nvme_alloc_host_mem_single() -> sets dev->hmb_sgt
nvme_set_host_mem() -> fails with -EIO
nvme_free_host_mem() -> frees hmb_sgt, but does NOT NULL it
return error
nvme_probe() error path:
nvme_free_host_mem() -> dev->hmb_sgt is stale, use-after-free
The second call dereferences the freed sgt, causing a NULL pointer
dereference in iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous() when it accesses
sgt->sgl->dma_address (the backing memory has been freed and zeroed).
This is reproducible on Thunderbolt-attached NVMe devices (e.g., OWC
Envoy Express behind a Dell WD22TB4 dock) where the device intermittently
returns I/O errors during HMB setup due to PCIe link instability.
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010
RIP: 0010:iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous+0x22/0x80
Call Trace:
<TASK>
dma_free_noncontiguous+0x3b/0x130
nvme_free_host_mem+0x30/0xf0 [nvme]
nvme_probe.cold+0xcc/0x275 [nvme]
local_pci_probe+0x43/0xa0
pci_device_probe+0xeea/0x290
really_probe+0xf9/0x3b0
__driver_probe_device+0x8b/0x170
driver_probe_device+0x24/0xd0
__driver_attach_async_helper+0x6b/0x110
async_run_entry_fn+0x37/0x170
process_one_work+0x1ac/0x3d0
worker_thread+0x1b8/0x360
kthread+0xf7/0x130
ret_from_fork+0x2d8/0x3a0
ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30
</TASK>
Fix this by setting dev->hmb_sgt to NULL after freeing it, so the
second call takes the multi-descriptor path which safely handles the
already-cleaned-up state.
Advisories
No advisories yet.
Fixes
Solution
No solution given by the vendor.
Workaround
No workaround given by the vendor.
References
History
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Weaknesses | CWE-476 | |
| References |
| |
| Metrics |
threat_severity
|
cvssV3_1
|
Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:15:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem() nvme_free_host_mem() frees dev->hmb_sgt via dma_free_noncontiguous() but never clears the pointer afterward. This leads to a use-after-free if nvme_free_host_mem() is called twice in the same error path. This can happen during nvme_probe() when nvme_setup_host_mem() succeeds in allocating the HMB (setting dev->hmb_sgt) but nvme_set_host_mem() fails with an I/O error: nvme_setup_host_mem() nvme_alloc_host_mem_single() -> sets dev->hmb_sgt nvme_set_host_mem() -> fails with -EIO nvme_free_host_mem() -> frees hmb_sgt, but does NOT NULL it return error nvme_probe() error path: nvme_free_host_mem() -> dev->hmb_sgt is stale, use-after-free The second call dereferences the freed sgt, causing a NULL pointer dereference in iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous() when it accesses sgt->sgl->dma_address (the backing memory has been freed and zeroed). This is reproducible on Thunderbolt-attached NVMe devices (e.g., OWC Envoy Express behind a Dell WD22TB4 dock) where the device intermittently returns I/O errors during HMB setup due to PCIe link instability. BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000010 RIP: 0010:iommu_dma_free_noncontiguous+0x22/0x80 Call Trace: <TASK> dma_free_noncontiguous+0x3b/0x130 nvme_free_host_mem+0x30/0xf0 [nvme] nvme_probe.cold+0xcc/0x275 [nvme] local_pci_probe+0x43/0xa0 pci_device_probe+0xeea/0x290 really_probe+0xf9/0x3b0 __driver_probe_device+0x8b/0x170 driver_probe_device+0x24/0xd0 __driver_attach_async_helper+0x6b/0x110 async_run_entry_fn+0x37/0x170 process_one_work+0x1ac/0x3d0 worker_thread+0x1b8/0x360 kthread+0xf7/0x130 ret_from_fork+0x2d8/0x3a0 ret_from_fork_asm+0x1a/0x30 </TASK> Fix this by setting dev->hmb_sgt to NULL after freeing it, so the second call takes the multi-descriptor path which safely handles the already-cleaned-up state. | |
| Title | nvme-pci: fix use-after-free in nvme_free_host_mem() | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
Projects
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Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-07-19T15:39:47.162Z
Reserved: 2026-07-19T07:54:57.031Z
Link: CVE-2026-64071
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OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
Weaknesses