CVE-2026-53165
HIGHIn 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()…
EPSS Exploitation Probability
EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) is a daily probability model maintained by FIRST.org. It estimates the likelihood a CVE will be exploited in production environments within the next 30 days, derived from real-world threat intelligence signals.
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.
Detection & mitigation playbook
VulnerabilityDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for the affected component. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Remediation status
No patched version of the affected component has shipped for CVE-2026-53165 yet. Where your build allows, override or pin the dependency away from the vulnerable range, and apply any maintainer-recommended mitigation.
Mitigate without a patch
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether CVE-2026-53165 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to CVE-2026-53165. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2026-53165 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2026-53165 across dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.