CVE-2026-43408
Published: May 8, 2026· Updated: May 12, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ceph: add a bunch of missing ceph_path_info initializers
ceph_mdsc_build_path() must be called with a zero-initialized
ceph_path_info parameter, or else the following
ceph_mdsc_free_path_info() may crash.
Example crash (on Linux 6.18.12):
virt_to_cache: Object is not a Slab page!
WARNING: CPU: 184 PID: 2871736 at mm/slub.c:6732 kmem_cache_free+0x316/0x400
[...]
Call Trace:
[...]
ceph_open+0x13d/0x3e0
do_dentry_open+0x134/0x480
vfs_open+0x2a/0xe0
path_openat+0x9a3/0x1160
[...]
cache_from_obj: Wrong slab cache. names_cache but object is from ceph_inode_info
WARNING: CPU: 184 PID: 2871736 at mm/slub.c:6746 kmem_cache_free+0x2dd/0x400
[...]
kernel BUG at mm/slub.c:634!
Oops: invalid opcode: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
RIP: 0010:__slab_free+0x1a4/0x350
Some of the ceph_mdsc_build_path() callers had initializers, but
others had not, even though they were all added by commit 15f519e9f883
("ceph: fix race condition validating r_parent before applying state").
The ones without initializer are suspectible to random crashes. (I can
imagine it could even be possible to exploit this bug to elevate
privileges.)
Unfortunately, these Ceph functions are undocumented and its semantics
can only be derived from the code. I see that ceph_mdsc_build_path()
initializes the structure only on success, but not on error.
Calling ceph_mdsc_free_path_info() after a failed
ceph_mdsc_build_path() call does not even make sense, but that's what
all callers do, and for it to be safe, the structure must be
zero-initialized. The least intrusive approach to fix this is
therefore to add initializers everywhere.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-43408 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires low privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
A successful exploit results in complete confidentiality breach (data exposure), full integrity compromise (data manipulation), availability disruption (denial of service), with a CVSS base score of 7.8.
CVSS v3.1 Vector Breakdown
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (4)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-43408 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts