CVE-2026-98119netfs: break unbuffered write when netfs_alloc_subrequest() fails

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: netfs: break unbuffered write when netfs_alloc_subrequest() fails syzbot reported a null-ptr-deref below [1] following a fault injection in netfs_alloc_subrequest(). [0] When netfs_alloc_subrequest() fails, subreq is NULL. Later, netfs_prepare_write() tries to initialize members of subreq(e.g., source), the issue in [1] is triggered. Let's handle the error of netfs_prepare_write() properly. [0] FAULT_INJECTION: forcing a failure. name failslab, interval 1, probability 0, space 0, times 0 Call Trace: netfs_alloc_subrequest+0x116/0x3f0 netfs_prepare_write+0x76/0x7b0 netfs_unbuffered_write+0x75c/0x2020 netfs_unbuffered_write_iter_locked+0x7d6/0xa80 netfs_unbuffered_write_iter+0x442/0x720 v9fs_file_write_iter+0xbf/0x100 vfs_write+0x6ac/0x1050 [1] KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x00000000000000a8-0x00000000000000af] RIP: 0010:netfs_prepare_write+0xbc/0x7b0 fs/netfs/write_issue.c:173 Call Trace: netfs_unbuffered_write+0x75c/0x2020 fs/netfs/direct_write.c:111 netfs_unbuffered_write_iter_locked+0x7d6/0xa80 fs/netfs/direct_write.c:290 netfs_unbuffered_write_iter+0x442/0x720 fs/netfs/direct_write.c:382 v9fs_file_write_iter+0xbf/0x100 fs/9p/vfs_file.c:409 new_sync_write fs/read_write.c:595 [inline]

CVSS

5.5 MEDIUM (v3.1, NVD)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness (CWE)

Not given

Known exploited

Not in CISA's KEV catalog

EPSS (exploitation in the next 30 days)

Not loaded for this CVE

Assigned by

Linux

NVD analysis

Analyzed

Record last updated

Oct 19, 2026

First seen by InfoSec Signals

Oct 9, 2026

The CVE record on cve.org · NVD's entry

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