Linux: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2026-52922 is a high-severity NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 9bcebaedfb8479cb4affb23c7a0d000ca9a20e73, 2edb8aeb3cdda9d00ec4997252dc5bcd6f54d8ef, ce0c381199402a2c58f4599f4f6ed100d872d0da 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 0.39% 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 9bcebaedfb8479cb4affb23c7a0d000ca9a20e73 or 2edb8aeb3cdda9d00ec4997252dc5bcd6f54d8ef or ce0c381199402a2c58f4599f4f6ed100d872d0da or 866ac1d57040ed0b44ca732e3c66b3aa6b93011c, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.10.258 or 5.15.209 or 6.1.175 or 6.6.142, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, 9bcebaedfb8479cb4affb23c7a0d000ca9a20e73; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, 2edb8aeb3cdda9d00ec4997252dc5bcd6f54d8ef; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, ce0c381199402a2c58f4599f4f6ed100d872d0da; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, 866ac1d57040ed0b44ca732e3c66b3aa6b93011c; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, 4d420d9ee70a220a2cd95aa0dd2e15acad66a505; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, 9cceea8eeba710def2a5707ee00f00c74a9a1cac; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, cf48e75fc4fe0d5cc7721c82d454221d01367b93; 785ea1144182c341b8b85b0f8180291839d176a8 up to, but not including, 2d8826a2d3657cea66fb0370f9e521575a673871; and 1 more ranges | 9bcebaedfb8479cb4affb23c7a0d000ca9a20e73, 2edb8aeb3cdda9d00ec4997252dc5bcd6f54d8ef, ce0c381199402a2c58f4599f4f6ed100d872d0da, 866ac1d57040ed0b44ca732e3c66b3aa6b93011c, 4d420d9ee70a220a2cd95aa0dd2e15acad66a505, 9cceea8eeba710def2a5707ee00f00c74a9a1cac |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 3.8 up to, but not including, 5.10.258; 5.11 up to, but not including, 5.15.209; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.1.175; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.142; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.12.92; 6.13 up to, but not including, 6.18.34; 6.19 up to, but not including, 7.0.11; 7.1 | 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.142, 6.12.92, 6.18.34 |
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
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- NoneNo data is disclosed.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by CNA.
Official description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: batman-adv: dat: handle forward allocation error batadv_dat_forward_data() calls pskb_copy_for_clone() to duplicate an skb for each DHT candidate, but does not check the return value before passing it to batadv_send_skb_prepare_unicast_4addr(). That function dereferences the skb unconditionally, so a failed allocation triggers a NULL pointer dereference. Skip forwarding to the current DHT candidate on allocation failure.
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
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2d8826a2d3657cea66fb0370f9e521575a673871
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2edb8aeb3cdda9d00ec4997252dc5bcd6f54d8ef
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d420d9ee70a220a2cd95aa0dd2e15acad66a505
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/866ac1d57040ed0b44ca732e3c66b3aa6b93011c
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9bcebaedfb8479cb4affb23c7a0d000ca9a20e73
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9cceea8eeba710def2a5707ee00f00c74a9a1cac
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ce0c381199402a2c58f4599f4f6ed100d872d0da
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf48e75fc4fe0d5cc7721c82d454221d01367b93
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
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