Medium [CVE-2026-53278] Check whether the config array is allocated before destroying it
This medium-severity Red Hat Linux advisory covers CVE-2026-53278 affecting Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat package: kernel-rt.
Aggregated and source-linked by VulniPulse. Data sources, validation and limitations.
VulniPulse record published Record updated
Summary
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: arm_mpam: Check whether the config array is allocated before destroying it __destroy_component_cfg() is called to free the configuration array. It uses the embedded 'garbage' structure, which means the array has to be allocated.
If __destroy_component_cfg() is called from mpam_disable() before the configuration was ever allocated, then a NULL pointer is dereferenced. Check for this case and return early if the configuration is not allocated. __destroy_component_cfg() also frees the mbwu_state as this is allocated by __allocate_component_cfg().
As the mbwu_state is allocated after comp->cfg is set, and is also under mpam_list_lock, only the first pointer needs checking. This can lead to a null pointer dereference, potentially causing a system crash and resulting in a Denial of Service (DoS).
Red Hat severity: Low — CVSS 5.5 (CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H). Weakness: CWE-909.
Affected Red Hat products: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10; Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9. Red Hat does not currently list a fixing RHSA for this CVE.
Affected products named by the advisory: Red Hat package: kernel-rt.
Is CVE-2026-53278 exploited?
No exploitation is reported in the sources VulniPulse tracks: CVE-2026-53278 is not in the CISA KEV catalog (checked ) and this advisory does not report exploitation. That is not proof the vulnerability cannot be exploited.
How do I fix CVE-2026-53278?
The advisory VulniPulse tracks names no fixed release. Follow Red Hat's guidance for workarounds and updates.
Confirm against the vendor advisory before you patch.
Affected versions
No affected-version range was extracted from the source record. The vendor advisory is authoritative. Check it before change work.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 13 days ago·verify at source
Fixed versions
No fixed release is recorded yet. That does not prove no patch exists. Confirm against the vendor advisory.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 13 days ago·verify at source
Mitigation
The source record does not include mitigation steps. That does not mean no fix exists. Read the vendor advisory below for the authoritative guidance.
Official advisory · medium-confidence parse· fetched 13 days ago·verify at source
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