perf: Fix null pointer access in is_include_guest_event()
A typical module unload occurring event when there is an active perf
connection leads to freeing of the pmu pointer. The call log is something
like:
..
__pmu_detach_event
pmu_detach_event
pmu_detach_events
perf_pmu_unregister
..
__pmu_detach_event() sets event->pmu to null. When the perf connection
finally is closed, the following stack trace is observed:
Oops: general protection fault, kernel NULL pointer dereference
...
RIP: 0010:_free_event+0x3e/0x370
...
Call Trace:
...
perf_event_release_kernel+0x260/0x2d0
perf_release+0x12/0x20
A call to mediated_pmu_unaccount_event() inside _free_event() is the root
cause of this crash. Adding a check inside is_include_guest_event() ensures
we don't accidentally access a null pmu ptr. In addition to this, we will
now call mediated_pmu_unaccount_event() before clearing the pmu ptr so that
nr_include_guest_events counts are maintained correctly.
Analysis
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Default status is the baseline for the product, each version can override it (e.g. patched versions marked unaffected).
| Vendor | Product | Default status | Versions | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | unaffected |
|
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| Linux | Linux | affected |
|
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No data available yet.
No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.
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Tue, 06 Oct 2026 09:00:00 +0000
| Type | Values Removed | Values Added |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: perf: Fix null pointer access in is_include_guest_event() A typical module unload occurring event when there is an active perf connection leads to freeing of the pmu pointer. The call log is something like: .. __pmu_detach_event pmu_detach_event pmu_detach_events perf_pmu_unregister .. __pmu_detach_event() sets event->pmu to null. When the perf connection finally is closed, the following stack trace is observed: Oops: general protection fault, kernel NULL pointer dereference ... RIP: 0010:_free_event+0x3e/0x370 ... Call Trace: ... perf_event_release_kernel+0x260/0x2d0 perf_release+0x12/0x20 A call to mediated_pmu_unaccount_event() inside _free_event() is the root cause of this crash. Adding a check inside is_include_guest_event() ensures we don't accidentally access a null pmu ptr. In addition to this, we will now call mediated_pmu_unaccount_event() before clearing the pmu ptr so that nr_include_guest_events counts are maintained correctly. | |
| Title | perf: Fix null pointer access in is_include_guest_event() | |
| First Time appeared |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| CPEs | cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | |
| Vendors & Products |
Linux
Linux linux Kernel |
|
| References |
|
MITRE
Status: PUBLISHED
Assigner: Linux
Published:
Updated: 2026-10-06T08:45:30.917Z
Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.333Z
Link: CVE-2026-98268
Vulnrichment
No data.
NVD
Status : Received
Published: 2026-10-06T09:18:16.227
Modified: 2026-10-06T09:18:16.227
Link: CVE-2026-98268
Redhat
No data.
OpenCVE Enrichment
No data.
No weakness.