CVE-2026-46040

May 27, 2026, 2:48 p.m.

None
No Score

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: inotify: fix watch count leak when fsnotify_add_inode_mark_locked() fails When fsnotify_add_inode_mark_locked() fails in inotify_new_watch(), the error path calls inotify_remove_from_idr() but does not call dec_inotify_watches() to undo the preceding inc_inotify_watches(). This leaks a watch count, and repeated failures can exhaust the max_user_watches limit with -ENOSPC even when no watches are active. Prior to commit 1cce1eea0aff ("inotify: Convert to using per-namespace limits"), the watch count was incremented after fsnotify_add_mark_locked() succeeded, so this path was not affected. The conversion moved inc_inotify_watches() before the mark insertion without adding the corresponding rollback. Add the missing dec_inotify_watches() call in the error path.

Product(s) Impacted

Vendor Product Versions
Linux
  • Kernel
  • *

Weaknesses

Common security weaknesses mapped to this vulnerability.

Timeline

Published: May 27, 2026, 2:17 p.m.
Last Modified: May 27, 2026, 2:48 p.m.

Status : Awaiting Analysis

CVE has been marked for Analysis. Normally once in this state the CVE will be analyzed by NVD staff within 24 hours.

More info

Source

416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

*Disclaimer: Some vulnerabilities do not have an associated CPE. To enhance the data, we use AI to infer CPEs based on CVE details. This is an automated process and might not always be accurate.