CVE-2026-63795·Kernel vulnerability
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: 9p: avoid putting oldfid in p9_client_walk() error path When p9_client_walk() is called with clone set to false, fid aliases oldfid. If the walk subsequently fails after the request has been sent, the error path jumps to clunk_fid, which currently calls p9_fid_put(fid) unconditionally. This drops a reference to oldfid even though ownership of oldfid remains with the caller. If this is the last reference, oldfid can be clunked and destroyed while the caller still expects it to be valid. A later use or put of oldfid can then trigger a use-after-free or refcount underflow. Fix this by only putting fid in the clunk_fid error path when it does not alias oldfid, matching the existing guard in the error path below. This can be triggered when a multi-component walk is split into multiple p9_client_walk() calls and a later non-cloning walk fails. A reproducer and refcount warning logs are available on request.
- Severity
- critical
- Software
- Kernel
- Fixed in
- 7.1.3
- Published
How likely is exploitation
FIRST's Exploit Prediction Scoring System puts the probability of this CVE being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.50% — higher than 42% of all published CVEs. EPSS is an independent forecast of exploitation, not a severity rating: it says nothing about how much damage a successful attack does, which is what a CVSS score measures.
Read the two together. CVE-2026-63795 scores 10 on CVSS, so a successful attack would be serious — but at 0.50%, almost nobody is currently attempting it. That is a different situation from a flaw under mass exploitation, and it is usually the difference between patching on your next maintenance window and patching tonight.
Affected versions
From: 6.19
Until: 7.1.3
Fixed in: 7.1.3
How to fix this CVE
Update your Linux kernel to version 7.1.3 or later to resolve a critical reference-counting bug in the 9p filesystem implementation. This vulnerability affects the p9_client_walk() function and can lead to use-after-free conditions when multi-component walks are split across multiple calls. Kernel updates should be applied immediately followed by a system reboot to load the patched kernel.
sudo dnf update kernel kernel-devel && sudo rebootDefensia detects this vulnerability
How to check if you are affected
- Check installed kernel version: uname -r — verify it is 7.1.3 or later
- Confirm 9p filesystem support is enabled: grep CONFIG_9P /boot/config-$(uname -r) — if =y or =m, the component is present
- Search kernel logs for 9p-related errors: sudo dmesg | grep -i '9p\|clunk\|fid' — look for reference count warnings or use-after-free traces
- After patching, reboot and re-run uname -r to confirm the new kernel version is active
FAQ
What is CVE-2026-63795?
CVE-2026-63795 is a critical reference-counting bug in the Linux kernel's 9p filesystem protocol handler. When certain multi-component filesystem walks fail, the error handling path incorrectly frees a file identifier that the caller still owns, leading to use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Is CVE-2026-63795 being actively exploited?
No, CVE-2026-63795 is not listed in CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog and no public exploits are currently available. However, the critical CVSS 10.0 rating warrants immediate patching.
What versions of Kernel are affected by CVE-2026-63795?
Linux kernel versions 6.19 through 7.1.2 are vulnerable. Version 7.1.3 and all subsequent releases contain the fix.
How do I check if my server is vulnerable to CVE-2026-63795?
Run uname -r and compare your kernel version against the range 6.19–7.1.2. If your version falls within this range, your system is vulnerable and requires immediate update.
Does Defensia detect CVE-2026-63795?
Yes — Defensia's CVE advisory scanner compares installed package versions against the NVD database. If Kernel is installed on a monitored server, CVE-2026-63795 will appear in your dashboard with remediation steps.
Related Kernel CVEs
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1a3860d46e3eb47dbd60339783cdad7904486b9f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6dbe9443d9f5f7fb6d319a7b77108853ae6c6bea
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/99c379ca1e221c3d75c7c804ebbf4e5ee37a3070
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a61bdcba4f64c2f90d01461913f429ab151f1ca6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7656d368265d085ac9bb85ab31b0cdb72ad8c38
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