In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

cachefiles: Fix double unlock in nomem_d_alloc error path

When start_creating() fails and returns -ENOMEM, it has already
released the parent directory lock in __start_dirop():

static struct dentry *__start_dirop(...)
{
...
inode_lock_nested(dir, I_MUTEX_PARENT);
dentry = lookup_one_qstr_excl(name, parent, lookup_flags);
if (IS_ERR(dentry))
inode_unlock(dir); <-- Lock released on error
return dentry;
}

However, the nomem_d_alloc error path in cachefiles_get_directory()
unconditionally calls inode_unlock(d_inode(dir)) again, causing a
double unlock that corrupts the rwsem state.

This is a leftover from commit 7ab96df840e60 which replaced manual
locking with start_creating() but failed to update the nomem_d_alloc
path (while correctly updating mkdir_error and lookup_error paths).
Advisories

No advisories yet.

Fixes

Solution

No solution given by the vendor.


Workaround

No workaround given by the vendor.

History

Sat, 22 Aug 2026 06:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
CWE-672

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-832
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Mon, 17 Aug 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-665
CWE-672

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 17:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-404

Mon, 17 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.8, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}


Sat, 15 Aug 2026 11:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-362
CWE-404

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: cachefiles: Fix double unlock in nomem_d_alloc error path When start_creating() fails and returns -ENOMEM, it has already released the parent directory lock in __start_dirop(): static struct dentry *__start_dirop(...) { ... inode_lock_nested(dir, I_MUTEX_PARENT); dentry = lookup_one_qstr_excl(name, parent, lookup_flags); if (IS_ERR(dentry)) inode_unlock(dir); <-- Lock released on error return dentry; } However, the nomem_d_alloc error path in cachefiles_get_directory() unconditionally calls inode_unlock(d_inode(dir)) again, causing a double unlock that corrupts the rwsem state. This is a leftover from commit 7ab96df840e60 which replaced manual locking with start_creating() but failed to update the nomem_d_alloc path (while correctly updating mkdir_error and lookup_error paths).
Title cachefiles: Fix double unlock in nomem_d_alloc error path
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Projects

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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-17T05:43:22.072Z

Reserved: 2026-08-09T03:40:39.922Z

Link: CVE-2026-72368

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-15T06:22:10.227

Modified: 2026-08-17T06:18:41.010

Link: CVE-2026-72368

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-08-15T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-72368 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-08-22T08:00:13Z

Weaknesses