CVE-2026-53402
HIGHfbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font()
Blast Radius
KernelReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects Linux packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
fbdev: fbcon: fix out-of-bounds read in err_out of fbcon_do_set_font()
When fbcon_do_set_font() fails (e.g., due to a memory allocation failure
inside vc_resize() under heavy memory pressure), it jumps to the err_out
label to roll back the console state. However, the current rollback logic
forgets to restore the hi_font state, leading to a severe state machine
corruption.
Earlier in the function, set_vc_hi_font() might be called to change
vc->vc_hi_font_mask and mutate the screen buffer. If vc_resize()
subsequently fails, the err_out path restores vc_font.charcount
but entirely skips rolling back the vc_hi_font_mask and the screen
buffer.
This mismatch leaves the terminal in a desynchronized state. Because
vc_hi_font_mask remains set, the VT subsystem will still accept
character indices greater than 255 from userspace and write them to the
screen buffer. Subsequent rendering calls (e.g., fbcon_putcs()) will
then use these inflated indices to access the reverted, 256-character
font array, leading to a deterministic out-of-bounds read and potential
kernel memory disclosure.
Fix this by adding the missing rollback logic for the hi_font mask
and screen buffer in the error path.
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🐧Linux | Kernel | ≥ 6.0.0&&< 6.12.96 | 6.12.96 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for Kernel. 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.
Fix
Update Kernel to 6.12.96 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms CVE-2026-53402 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
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-2026-53402 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-2026-53402. 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-2026-53402 in your dependencies?
O3 detects CVE-2026-53402 across Linux dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.