CVE-2026-52966 drm: Replace old pointer to new idr
A logic error in the Linux kernel DRM subsystem fails to update an IDR pointer, leading to a use-after-free condition and potential system crash.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-52966?
CVE-2026-52966 is a medium-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux kernel, published on 24 Jun 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
drm: Replace old pointer to new idr
Commit 5e28b7b94408 introduced a logical error by failing to replace the newly generated IDR pointer to old id's pointer at the correct location within the "change handle" logic; this resulted in the issue reported by syzbot [1].
Specifically, the new IDR object pointer is intended to replace the original id's pointer during the normal execution flow.
Additionally, an unnecessary conditional check for the ret exit path has been removed.
[1] !RB_EMPTY_ROOT(&prime_fpriv->dmabufs) WARNING: drivers/gpu/drm/drm_prime.c:224 at drm_prime_destroy_file_private+0x48/0x60 drivers/gpu/drm/drm_prime.c:224, CPU#0: syz.0.17/5833 Call Trace: drm_file_free.part.0+0x7e6/0xcc0 drivers/gpu/drm/drm_file.c:269 drm_file_free drivers/gpu/drm/drm_file.c:237 [inline] drm_close_helper.isra.0+0x186/0x200 drivers/gpu/drm/drm_file.c:290 drm_release+0x1ab/0x360 drivers/gpu/drm/drm_file.c:438
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-52966?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-52966?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2026-52966 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-52966 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Linux kernel
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-52966, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-52966, GHSA-x485-q562-qf82, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-52966.