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CVE-2026-46278 Linux CVE debrief

A vulnerability was discovered in the Linux kernel, specifically in the drm/imagination component. The issue occurs when updating the ftrace mask, leading to a segmentation fault due to invalid data access. The problem arises from passing incorrect data to a debugfs entry. This vulnerability can be triggered by writing to a debugfs attribute, which causes the kernel to attempt to access a null pointer, resulting in a crash.

Vendor
Linux
Product
Unknown
CVSS
MEDIUM 5.5
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-06-08
Original CVE updated
2026-07-23
Advisory published
2026-06-08
Advisory updated
2026-07-23

Who should care

Linux kernel developers and users who rely on the drm/imagination component, particularly those using the powervr driver, should be aware of this vulnerability. This issue may affect systems that utilize this driver for graphics processing.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by a null pointer dereference in the pvr_fw_trace_mask_set function of the powervr driver. When an attacker writes to a specific debugfs attribute, the function attempts to access a null pointer, leading to a segmentation fault. The issue is due to incorrect data being passed to the debugfs entry.

Defensive priority

Medium

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply the patches provided in the kernel.org references to fix the vulnerability.
  • Restrict access to debugfs attributes to prevent unauthorized writes.
  • Monitor kernel updates for a patched version of the Linux kernel.

Evidence notes

The vulnerability was discovered and resolved by passing the correct data to the debugfs entry. The fix involves modifying the pvr_fw_trace_mask_set function to handle data correctly.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-46278 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46278

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-46278 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-46278

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5dfd429591f8d7185bf63a08b5c30863fb605611

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba422758981b61585c7da6429f50ef1c58d326f7

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.