configfs: pin the symlink target's dirent instead of chasing ->ci_dentry (CVE-2026-97950) | HOL Guard CVE

Unknown severity · Source severity not reportedCVE-2026-97950

configfs: pin the symlink target's dirent instead of chasing ->ci_dentry

Answer in brief

CVE-2026-97950 records a Unknown severity vulnerability in configfs: pin the symlink target's dirent instead of chasing ->ci_dentry. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic), Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Analysis pending evidence review

HOL Guard separates source facts from reviewed analysis. See the methodology.

Published Sep 25, 2026Updated Sep 25, 2026Source checked Sep 25, 2026First seen by HOL Sep 25, 2026Material review Sep 25, 2026

Upstream Advisory

Key facts

Risk: Unknown severitySource severity not reported
Exploitation: Not marked as known exploited
Affected software: 2 mapped packages or products
Fix availability: Available

Why this deserves its current priority

A CVSS score is not reported in the current record. The current sources do not mark it as known exploited. Treat this as a source-backed prioritization signal, not a statement about your environment.

Analysis status

Analysis pending evidence review

Factual feed record only; HOL analysis is not approved for indexing. Read the methodology.

Affected scope and exposure questions

The current feed maps Linux/Linux (generic), Linux/Linux (generic). Check affected ranges and fixed versions before updating.

Mapped affected packages and fixed versions
Package	Affected range	Fixed version
Linux/Linuxgeneric	>=7063fbf2261194f72ee75afca67b3b38b554b5fa <4f54beb2e7f6d399396466682fba3539bcdcb414 \|\| >=7063fbf2261194f72ee75afca67b3b38b554b5fa <d47c5de1cd6bfbe1067fc310bf90e4e00205e839 \|\| >=7063fbf2261194f72ee75afca67b3b38b554b5fa <a7c1290eef60711c10289c056ad32ed1f2b47b12	4f54beb2e7f6d399396466682fba3539bcdcb414, d47c5de1cd6bfbe1067fc310bf90e4e00205e839, a7c1290eef60711c10289c056ad32ed1f2b47b12
Linux/Linuxgeneric	2.6.16	Not reported

Recommended response

Check inventory. Check lockfiles and deployed manifests for Linux/Linux, Linux/Linux.
Review the reported fix. Update Linux/Linux to 4f54beb2e7f6d399396466682fba3539bcdcb414 if you use the affected versions. Test the change in a non-production environment first.

Evidence timeline and material changes

Published upstream
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
Source modified
Sep 25, 2026
Evidence: source:cvelist:source_dates:source-dates:record
First seen by HOL
Sep 25, 2026

Sources and claim methodology

Upstream source description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: configfs: pin the symlink target's dirent instead of chasing ->ci_dentry create_link() reads the target's configfs_dirent from item->ci_dentry->d_fsdata, relying on the item reference taken by get_target(). That reference pins the item, not its dentry: the dentry is pinned by DCACHE_PERSISTENT, which configfs_remove_dir() releases via simple_rmdir() while the item is still alive. A symlink racing with rmdir of its target can therefore find ->ci_dentry freed and its dirent released, triggering WARN_ON(!atomic_read(&sd->s_count)) in configfs_get(). Take the dirent in get_target() as well, under ->d_lock and atomically with the item reference, and pass it down to create_link(). A hashed dentry has not been killed yet, so its ->d_fsdata reference keeps the dirent alive there.

Quoted source text, attributed separately from HOL analysis.