In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

null_blk: free zones array on device power-off

null_init_zoned_dev() allocates dev->zones when a zoned device is powered
on, but null_del_dev() never frees it on power-off; dev->zones is only
freed later in null_free_dev(), when the configfs directory is removed. If
the device is powered off and then on again, null_init_zoned_dev()
allocates a new array and overwrites the dev->zones pointer, leaking the
previous allocation each power cycle.

Free dev->zones in null_del_dev() via null_free_zoned_dev() to solve it.
And calling null_free_zoned_dev() in null_free_dev() is no longer necessary
because every caller already invokes null_del_dev() first: via
nullb_group_drop_item() before nullb_device_release(), in the
null_add_dev() error path of null_create_dev(), and in null_destroy_dev().
Remove the redundant call.

And take &lock around zone_cond_store() in the two store wrappers to
serialize dev->zones check-and-deref against its alloc/free, which already
run under &lock. The reason there was no problem before is that only
nullb_device_release() or null_exit() frees the dev->zones, which
guarantees that subsequent users won't access the configfs interface.
Advisories

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Fixes

Solution

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Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 16:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: null_blk: free zones array on device power-off null_init_zoned_dev() allocates dev->zones when a zoned device is powered on, but null_del_dev() never frees it on power-off; dev->zones is only freed later in null_free_dev(), when the configfs directory is removed. If the device is powered off and then on again, null_init_zoned_dev() allocates a new array and overwrites the dev->zones pointer, leaking the previous allocation each power cycle. Free dev->zones in null_del_dev() via null_free_zoned_dev() to solve it. And calling null_free_zoned_dev() in null_free_dev() is no longer necessary because every caller already invokes null_del_dev() first: via nullb_group_drop_item() before nullb_device_release(), in the null_add_dev() error path of null_create_dev(), and in null_destroy_dev(). Remove the redundant call. And take &lock around zone_cond_store() in the two store wrappers to serialize dev->zones check-and-deref against its alloc/free, which already run under &lock. The reason there was no problem before is that only nullb_device_release() or null_exit() frees the dev->zones, which guarantees that subsequent users won't access the configfs interface.
Title null_blk: free zones array on device power-off
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-09-17T16:07:09.683Z

Reserved: 2026-09-11T19:38:34.791Z

Link: CVE-2026-90187

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-09-17T17:17:13.270

Modified: 2026-09-17T17:17:13.270

Link: CVE-2026-90187

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

No weakness.