Highly exploitable, CVE-2026-53165 poses a critical security risk that could lead to severe breaches.
Status: Analyzed
Last updated: 🕕 07 Jul 2026, 18:14 UTC
Originally published on: 🕘 25 Jun 2026, 09:16 UTC
Time between publication and last update: 12 days
CVSS Release: version 3
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Secondary
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
CVE-2026-53165: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: iomap: avoid potential null folio->mapping deref during error reporting When a buffered read fails, iomap_finish_folio_read() reports the error with fserror_report_io(folio->mapping->host, ...). This is called after ifs->read_bytes_pending has been decremented by the bytes attempted to be read. For a folio split across multiple read completions, the folio is only guaranteed to stay locked while read_bytes_pending > 0. Once iomap_finish_folio_read() decrements read_bytes_pending, another in-flight read can complete and end the read on the folio, which unlocks it. This allows truncate logic to run and detach the folio (set folio->mapping to NULL). The error reporting path then can dereference a NULL folio->mapping. As reported by Sam Sun, this is the race that can occur: CPU0: failed completion CPU1: final completion CPU2: truncate ----------------------- ---------------------- -------------- read_bytes_pending -= len finished = false /* preempted before fserror_report_io() */ read_bytes_pending -= len finished = true folio_end_read() truncate clears folio->mapping fserror_report_io( folio->mapping->host, ...) ^ NULL deref Fix this by reporting the error first before decrementing ifs->read_bytes_pending.
The exploitability of CVE-2026-53165 depends on two key factors: attack complexity (the level of effort required to execute an exploit) and privileges required (the access level an attacker needs).
With low attack complexity and no required privileges, CVE-2026-53165 is an easy target for cybercriminals. Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation measures to prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
A lower complexity and fewer privilege requirements make exploitation easier. Security teams should evaluate these aspects to determine the urgency of mitigation strategies, such as patch management and access control policies.
Attack Complexity (AC) measures the difficulty in executing an exploit. A high AC means that specific conditions must be met, making an attack more challenging, while a low AC means the vulnerability can be exploited with minimal effort.
Privileges Required (PR) determine the level of system access necessary for an attack. Vulnerabilities requiring no privileges are more accessible to attackers, whereas high privilege requirements limit exploitation to authorized users with elevated access.
Above is the CVSS Sub-score Breakdown for CVE-2026-53165, illustrating how Base, Impact, and Exploitability factors combine to form the overall severity rating. A higher sub-score typically indicates a more severe or easier-to-exploit vulnerability.
Below is the Impact Analysis for CVE-2026-53165, showing how Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability might be affected if the vulnerability is exploited. Higher values usually signal greater potential damage.
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