Linux: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2026-43263 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 925b8f99f92fc968990ebb4ec49c96ac2d4e600b, ea316b784fe6a61b29131c98cddb24e651b1dcbc, d12bcf183ec7da4305d848068d15f18044eaf62a as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.16% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update Linux to 925b8f99f92fc968990ebb4ec49c96ac2d4e600b or ea316b784fe6a61b29131c98cddb24e651b1dcbc or d12bcf183ec7da4305d848068d15f18044eaf62a or e66ff2b08e4ee1c4d3b84f24818e5bcc178cc3a4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 6.18.16 or 6.19.6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 9707a6254a8a6b978bde811a44fe07d86c229d1c up to, but not including, 925b8f99f92fc968990ebb4ec49c96ac2d4e600b; 9707a6254a8a6b978bde811a44fe07d86c229d1c up to, but not including, ea316b784fe6a61b29131c98cddb24e651b1dcbc; 9707a6254a8a6b978bde811a44fe07d86c229d1c up to, but not including, d12bcf183ec7da4305d848068d15f18044eaf62a; 9707a6254a8a6b978bde811a44fe07d86c229d1c up to, but not including, e66ff2b08e4ee1c4d3b84f24818e5bcc178cc3a4; 6.8 | 925b8f99f92fc968990ebb4ec49c96ac2d4e600b, ea316b784fe6a61b29131c98cddb24e651b1dcbc, d12bcf183ec7da4305d848068d15f18044eaf62a, e66ff2b08e4ee1c4d3b84f24818e5bcc178cc3a4 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 6.8 up to, but not including, 6.18.16; 6.19 up to, but not including, 6.19.6 | 6.18.16, 6.19.6 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: chips-media: wave5: Fix Null reference while testing fluster When multi instances are created/destroyed, many interrupts happens and structures for decoder are removed. "struct vpu_instance" this structure is shared for all flow in the decoder, so if the structure is not protected by lock, Null dereference could happens sometimes. IRQ Handler was spilt to two phases and Lock was added as well.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: NULL Pointer Dereference
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
- Select a programming language that is not susceptible to these issues.
- Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is non-null before acting upon it.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Patches and release notes
Other references
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.1 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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