CVE-2026-72083 scsi: target: core: Fix iSCSI ISID use-after-free in REGISTER AND MOVE
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's iSCSI target allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code via crafted SCSI commands.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-72083?
CVE-2026-72083 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 15 Aug 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
scsi: target: core: Fix iSCSI ISID use-after-free in REGISTER AND MOVE
core_scsi3_emulate_pro_register_and_move() maps the PERSISTENT RESERVE OUT parameter list with transport_kmap_data_sg() and parses the destination TransportID with target_parse_pr_out_transport_id(). For an iSCSI TransportID (FORMAT CODE 01b), iscsi_parse_pr_out_transport_id() returns the ISID in iport_ptr as a raw pointer into that mapped buffer.
The function then unmaps the buffer with transport_kunmap_data_sg() before dereferencing iport_ptr in strcmp(), __core_scsi3_locate_pr_reg() and core_scsi3_alloc_registration(). When the parameter list spans more than one page (PARAMETER LIST LENGTH > 4096), transport_kmap_data_sg() uses vmap() and transport_kunmap_data_sg() does vunmap(), so the kernel virtual address backing iport_ptr is torn down and every subsequent dereference is a use-after-free read of the unmapped region.
Keep the parameter list mapped until iport_ptr is no longer needed: drop the early transport_kunmap_data_sg() and unmap once on the success path, right before returning. The error paths already unmap through the existing "if (buf) transport_kunmap_data_sg(cmd)" at the out: label, which now runs on every post-map error exit because buf is no longer cleared early. Only reads of the mapping happen while spinlocks are held; the map and unmap calls remain outside any lock. The sibling caller core_scsi3_decode_spec_i_port() already uses the buffer before unmapping it and is left unchanged.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-72083?
How do I fix CVE-2026-72083?
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-2026-72083 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-72083 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-72083, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-72083, GHSA-4wvq-w7j8-wrfm, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72083.