CVE-2026-53402
fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font()
- State
- Published
- Severity
- 7.1 High
- Published
- Jul 19, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 19, 2026
- Reserved
- Jun 9, 2026
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font()
When fbcon_do_set_font() fails (e.g., due to a memory allocation failure inside vc_resize() under heavy memory pressure), it jumps to the `err_out` label to roll back the console state. However, the current rollback logic forgets to restore the `hi_font` state, leading to a severe state machine corruption.
Earlier in the function, `set_vc_hi_font()` might be called to change `vc->vc_hi_font_mask` and mutate the screen buffer. If `vc_resize()` subsequently fails, the `err_out` path restores `vc_font.charcount` but entirely skips rolling back the `vc_hi_font_mask` and the screen buffer.
This mismatch leaves the terminal in a desynchronized state. Because `vc_hi_font_mask` remains set, the VT subsystem will still accept character indices greater than 255 from userspace and write them to the screen buffer. Subsequent rendering calls (e.g., `fbcon_putcs()`) will then use these inflated indices to access the reverted, 256-character font array, leading to a deterministic out-of-bounds read and potential kernel memory disclosure.
Fix this by adding the missing rollback logic for the `hi_font` mask and screen buffer in the error path.
Scores
| CVSS | Score | Vector | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.1 | 7.1 High | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H | Linux |
Weaknesses
- CWE-125 Out-of-bounds Read
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
LinuxLinux |
|
LinuxLinux |
|
References
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/cb016bcb40c81e7b19c4ae6143babb366dae8e20
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac562193c36696513ae196171892e9338475c4bc
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3618a4c5b2591cfa83efe74f5b18c2d02b35c3f5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a7a526fbc847f07ad3a503c7382189be5ab68574
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/b5bb2c696e140c399cb874def2feedf61dee27d6
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/076b1aa65f77a49bce5a48a4a55a397cfcafa2b8
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/39815715cbcfabb16fc8c5f4a23deeda20f5df62
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8fdc8c2057eea08d40ce2c8eed41ff9e451c65c2
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