CVE-2026-53165: linux NULL Pointer Dereference

Vulnerability summary

CVE-2026-53165 is a high (CVSS 7.5) NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability in linux. EPSS estimates a 0.34% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, higher than 26.4% of scored vulnerabilities.

Timeline

1. 25-06-2026
   PublishedVulnerability first disclosed.
2. 05-08-2026
   Last modifiedVulnerability information updated.

Description

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.

• CWE-476NULL Pointer DereferenceThe product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.