Linux: NULL Pointer Dereference
CVE-2026-64116 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 c7e8971abd70e9d022f1c251ba2508f8dc7f2db8, 09cbfd4b81ae90963dadb1de99b63b702e73290a, 1dca7e491f070ac49b3d934f16ee953a53b37f38 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 0.51% 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 c7e8971abd70e9d022f1c251ba2508f8dc7f2db8 or 09cbfd4b81ae90963dadb1de99b63b702e73290a or 1dca7e491f070ac49b3d934f16ee953a53b37f38 or 902daac307eb7e1955ce05b071950f3cba88c963, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Linux Kernel to 5.15.210 or 6.1.176 or 6.6.143 or 6.12.92, 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 | 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, c7e8971abd70e9d022f1c251ba2508f8dc7f2db8; 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, 09cbfd4b81ae90963dadb1de99b63b702e73290a; 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, 1dca7e491f070ac49b3d934f16ee953a53b37f38; 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, 902daac307eb7e1955ce05b071950f3cba88c963; 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, abdd03229414b5a52943b65a60f34b84cea5ac59; 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, cf75eb6617042c8cff6112daeed7791809fc9dd2; 9ee11f0fff205b4b3df9750bff5e94f97c71b6a0 up to, but not including, d4ea0dfd75011b78cebf3808f98ac4c4f51a6fb9; 5.15 | c7e8971abd70e9d022f1c251ba2508f8dc7f2db8, 09cbfd4b81ae90963dadb1de99b63b702e73290a, 1dca7e491f070ac49b3d934f16ee953a53b37f38, 902daac307eb7e1955ce05b071950f3cba88c963, abdd03229414b5a52943b65a60f34b84cea5ac59, cf75eb6617042c8cff6112daeed7791809fc9dd2 |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | 5.15 up to, but not including, 5.15.210; 5.16 up to, but not including, 6.1.176; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.143; 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 | 5.15.210, 6.1.176, 6.6.143, 6.12.92, 6.18.34, 7.0.11 |
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: ipv6: ioam: add NULL check for idev in ipv6_hop_ioam() Reported by Sashiko: The function ipv6_hop_ioam() accesses __in6_dev_get(skb->dev)->cnf.ioam6_enabled without validating the returned idev pointer. Because addrconf_ifdown() can concurrently clear dev->ip6_ptr via RCU, __in6_dev_get() can return NULL during interface teardown, which could cause a NULL pointer dereference when processing an IOAM Hop-by-Hop option. Let's add a check and use SKB_DROP_REASON_IPV6DISABLED accordingly.
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/09cbfd4b81ae90963dadb1de99b63b702e73290a
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1dca7e491f070ac49b3d934f16ee953a53b37f38
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/902daac307eb7e1955ce05b071950f3cba88c963
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/abdd03229414b5a52943b65a60f34b84cea5ac59
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c7e8971abd70e9d022f1c251ba2508f8dc7f2db8
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf75eb6617042c8cff6112daeed7791809fc9dd2
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/d4ea0dfd75011b78cebf3808f98ac4c4f51a6fb9
Recent NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerabilities
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.5 High severity
- 8.4 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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