CVE-2026-80579 fbdev: clear fb_info->mode before deleting a videomode
A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel fbdev subsystem allows attackers to cause denial of service or potentially execute code via stale pointer dereference.
- 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-2026-80579?
CVE-2026-80579 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 26 Aug 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:
fbdev: clear fb_info->mode before deleting a videomode
fb_set_var() can delete a mode from info->modelist when userspace passes FB_ACTIVATE_INV_MODE through FBIOPUT_VSCREENINFO. The code checks that the mode being deleted is not the current info->var and that fbcon is not using it, but it does not check fb_info->mode.
fb_info->mode may still point into the modelist entry being deleted. If the entry is freed, later mode sysfs reads through show_mode() can dereference a stale pointer.
Clear fb_info->mode before calling fb_delete_videomode() when it matches the mode being removed.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-80579?
How do I fix CVE-2026-80579?
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-2026-80579 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-80579 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-97716, BELL-CVE-2026-80579, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-80579, GHSA-ppqm-p5h9-4x92, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-80579.