CVE-2026-89688 nfsd: drop the stateid, not the stateowner, on seqid_op replay retry
A refcount underflow in the Linux kernel NFS server allows attackers to trigger a use-after-free, potentially leading to code execution or denial of service.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-89688?
CVE-2026-89688 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:
nfsd: drop the stateid, not the stateowner, on seqid_op replay retry
In nfs4_preprocess_seqid_op() the stateid is obtained from nfsd4_lookup_stateid(), which holds a reference on the nfs4_stid (sc_count) but takes no reference on the stateowner. openlockstateid() merely casts that stid and likewise takes no reference.
When nfsd4_cstate_assign_replay() returns -EAGAIN (the replay owner is being torn down, RP_UNHASHED) it has not taken a stateowner reference on that path. The error handling nevertheless called nfs4_put_stateowner(stp->st_stateowner), dropping an so_count reference the function never acquired -- risking a stateowner refcount underflow and use-after-free -- while leaking the sc_count reference held on the stid. The leaked stid reference can also stall a concurrent nfsd4_close_open_stateid() waiting for sc_count to drop.
Drop the reference actually held -- the stid -- before retrying. The stateowner stays alive through the reference held by the stid. This mirrors the open path in nfsd4_process_open1(), where the put balances a reference that path explicitly holds on the stateowner.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-89688?
How do I fix CVE-2026-89688?
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-2026-89688 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-89688 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as BELL-CVE-2026-89688, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-89688, GHSA-mq7m-fxw5-rr6m, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-89688.