In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal

A module-only event filter such as ":mod:foo" is cached with a NULL
event_mod->match when foo has not been loaded. If a later write tries to
remove a specific match from the same module, remove_cache_mod() passes
the NULL cached match to strcmp(), causing a NULL pointer dereference.

The issue can be reproduced from userspace:

echo ':mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' > /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event
echo '!foo_bar:mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' >> /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event

The second write must be a concatenation (">>") to not include O_TRUNC as
that would cause ftrace_clear_events() to clear the cached modules lines.

The crash was reproduced on x86_64 QEMU while KUnit workers contended on
the event tracing path:

BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000
#PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode
RIP: 0010:strcmp+0x10/0x30
Call Trace:
__ftrace_set_clr_event_nolock+0x373/0x4a0
ftrace_set_clr_event+0xf0/0x180
ftrace_event_write+0xdf/0x110
vfs_write+0xf6/0x440
ksys_write+0x68/0xe0
do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x540
entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f

Check event_mod->match before comparing it, consistent with the existing
NULL checks for the cached system and event fields. The mismatched removal
continues to return -EINVAL; a broad cached module filter is removed with
"!:mod:<module>".

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Sat, 22 Aug 2026 15:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal A module-only event filter such as ":mod:foo" is cached with a NULL event_mod->match when foo has not been loaded. If a later write tries to remove a specific match from the same module, remove_cache_mod() passes the NULL cached match to strcmp(), causing a NULL pointer dereference. The issue can be reproduced from userspace: echo ':mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' > /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event echo '!foo_bar:mod:trace_events_kunit_missing' >> /sys/kernel/tracing/set_event The second write must be a concatenation (">>") to not include O_TRUNC as that would cause ftrace_clear_events() to clear the cached modules lines. The crash was reproduced on x86_64 QEMU while KUnit workers contended on the event tracing path: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode RIP: 0010:strcmp+0x10/0x30 Call Trace: __ftrace_set_clr_event_nolock+0x373/0x4a0 ftrace_set_clr_event+0xf0/0x180 ftrace_event_write+0xdf/0x110 vfs_write+0xf6/0x440 ksys_write+0x68/0xe0 do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x540 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f Check event_mod->match before comparing it, consistent with the existing NULL checks for the cached system and event fields. The mismatched removal continues to return -EINVAL; a broad cached module filter is removed with "!:mod:<module>".
Title tracing: Fix NULL pointer dereference in module event cache removal
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
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cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-22T15:32:13.808Z

Reserved: 2026-08-15T05:44:03.922Z

Link: CVE-2026-74633

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-08-22T16:16:36.380

Modified: 2026-08-22T16:16:36.380

Link: CVE-2026-74633

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

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