# CVE-2026-89655: ceph: fix UAF in __kick_flushing_caps() on cf entry freed during unlock

> A use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's Ceph client allows attackers to cause denial of service or execute arbitrary code via a race condition.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 11 Sep 2026
- **Updated:** 19 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** AZL-100904, BELL-CVE-2026-89655, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-89655, GHSA-67r3-hj2c-67vv, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-89655

## What is CVE-2026-89655?

CVE-2026-89655 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 11 Sep 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:

ceph: fix UAF in __kick_flushing_caps() on cf entry freed during unlock

list_for_each_entry() iterates ci->i_cap_flush_list but drops
i_ceph_lock to send cap messages.  During the unlock window,
handle_cap_flush_ack() can acquire i_ceph_lock, detach cf entries
with tid <= flush_tid from the list, release i_ceph_lock, and free
them via ceph_free_cap_flush() outside any lock.  When the original
thread reacquires i_ceph_lock and the for-loop macro advances via
cf = list_next_entry(cf, i_list), it dereferences cf->i_list.next
on freed memory.

The race timeline:

  __kick_flushing_caps()              handle_cap_flush_ack()
  -----------------------             -----------------------
  holds i_ceph_lock        <---
  iterates to cf (tid=10)
  prepares FLUSH message
  drops i_ceph_lock        <---
  __send_cap() ── FLUSH(tid=10)
	                              MDS sends FLUSH_ACK(tid=10)
                           --->       acquires i_ceph_lock
                                      cf->tid(10) <= flush_tid(10),
                                      detaches cf from i_cap_flush_list
                                      drops i_ceph_lock
                                      ceph_free_cap_flush(cf) <- frees it!
  acquires i_ceph_lock     <---
  for-loop advances:
    cf = list_next_entry(cf, i_list)
      -- UAF on freed cf->i_list.next

The cf was just sent by __kick_flushing_caps itself via __send_cap().
The MDS may respond with FLUSH_ACK quickly enough that
handle_cap_flush_ack() frees cf before __kick_flushing_caps can
finish the iteration.

Fix by converting to a manual while loop: save the next pointer
under i_ceph_lock before dropping it, then use the saved pointer
after reacquiring, so the potentially-freed cf is never accessed again.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-89655?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-89655?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-89655 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-89655 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-89655 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-89655 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Linux, published on 11 Sep 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-89655 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-89655/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-89655/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-89655
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-89655
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-89655

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-89655/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.