Not ratedCVE-2026-98849

    Linux Kernel: NULL Pointer Dereference (CVE-2026-98849)

    Published Last modified Sources: Debian LTS, BSI, Msrc Update Guide, CVE.org

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    What is affected, what to do

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pfcp: fix socket lifetime on netdevice registration failure pfcp_newlink() creates the UDP socket before register_netdevice(). If registration fails after pfcp_dev_init() succeeds, the core calls pfcp_dev_uninit(), which releases the socket and clears pfcp->sk.

    Update Linux Kernel to version 6.12.113, Linux Kernel to version 6.18.56, Linux Kernel to version 7.2.10.

    Affected
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.10..6.12.113
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.13..6.18.56
    • Linux Kernel lt 6.19..7.2.10
    Fixed in
    • Linux Kernel 6.12.113
    • Linux Kernel 6.18.56
    • Linux Kernel 7.2.10
    • Linux Kernel 7.3

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    Metrics

    —

    Priority

    No value is available for this vulnerability.

    —

    CVSS v3

    No value is available for this vulnerability.

    0.2 %

    EPSS score

    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 6.1

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    Not rated
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    30.30 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    no public PoC known
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    0.2 %
    Low — model estimates < 1% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    6.1
    Low — this CVE sits in the lower 10% of all CVEs scored today.
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    —
    Published

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    Handle the vulnerability in regular vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2.
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pfcp: fix socket lifetime on netdevice registration failure pfcp_newlink() creates the UDP socket before register_netdevice(). If registration fails after pfcp_dev_init() succeeds, the core calls pfcp_dev_uninit(), which releases the socket and clears pfcp->sk. The newlink error path then releases it again, causing a NULL pointer dereference. This was observed with failslab fault injection: FAULT_INJECTION: forcing a failure. kobject: kobject_add_internal failed for pfcp0 (error: -12 parent: net) BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in udp_tunnel_sock_release+0x1c/0x50 Read of size 8 at addr 0000000000000120 by task ip/1037 Call trace: show_stack+0x18/0x24 (C) dump_stack_lvl+0x78/0x90 print_report+0x468/0x5cc kasan_report+0xa4/0xf0 __asan_load8+0x7c/0xd0 udp_tunnel_sock_release+0x1c/0x50 pfcp_newlink+0x128/0x184 rtnl_newlink+0x848/0xe44 rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x468/0x514 netlink_rcv_skb+0xc0/0x1f0 rtnetlink_rcv+0x18/0x24 netlink_unicast+0x4b8/0x558 netlink_sendmsg+0x2b8/0x584 ... Return from pfcp_del_sock() if pfcp->sk is NULL.

    Source: Debian LTS Advisories, BSI WID Portal, BSI CSAF, Microsoft Security Update Guide, cvelistv5, NVD (NIST)

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    LinuxLinux
    • 6.13 – < 6.18.56
    • 6.19 – < 7.2.10
    • —
    • 6.10 – < 6.12.113
    • 6.18.56
    • 7.2.10
    • 7.3
    • 6.12.113

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    Linuxdebianlinux-6.12bookworm

    References & sources

    Changes to this CVE

    Who changed this CVE and when: NVD (analysis, affected products, CVSS), the CVE publisher (CNA) and additional providers such as CISA (ADP).

    1. Record modifiedLinux

      1 individual change: Affected versions (publisher)

      Show the original change
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      Affected value modified. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98849.json">CVE-2026-98849</a>

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

    2. ReceivedLinux

      Description added or changed

      Show 6 original changes
      Individual changes of this event as published by NVD
      TypeActionBeforeAfter
      Descriptionadded
      —
      In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: pfcp: fix socket lifetime on netdevice registration failure pfcp_newlink() creates the UDP socket before register_netdevice(). If registration fails after pfcp_dev_init() succeeds, the core calls pfcp_dev_uninit(), which releases the socket and clears pfcp->sk. The newlink error path then releases it again, causing a NULL pointer dereference. This was observed with failslab fault injection: FAULT_INJECTION: forcing a failure. kobject: kobject_add_internal failed for pfcp0 (error: -12 parent: net) BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in udp_tunnel_sock_release+0x1c/0x50 Read of size 8 at addr 0000000000000120 by task ip/1037 Call trace: show_stack+0x18/0x24 (C) dump_stack_lvl+0x78/0x90 print_report+0x468/0x5cc kasan_report+0xa4/0xf0 __asan_load8+0x7c/0xd0 udp_tunnel_sock_release+0x1c/0x50 pfcp_newlink+0x128/0x184 rtnl_newlink+0x848/0xe44 rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x468/0x514 netlink_rcv_skb+0xc0/0x1f0 rtnetlink_rcv+0x18/0x24 netlink_unicast+0x4b8/0x558 netlink_sendmsg+0x2b8/0x584 ... Return from pfcp_del_sock() if pfcp->sk is NULL.
      Affected versions (publisher)added
      —
      New affected value received. <a href="https://github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/blob/main/cves/2026/98xxx/CVE-2026-98849.json">CVE-2026-98849</a>
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0f17d2e3dd9cda3ee6d94033d5e5489af168920d
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2cee3603ec1d9b5ec7f2121ea3efe9488e906f46
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4b8ce1686dea1a10805a0807bf492409b0300ee1
      Referenceadded
      —
      https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/dcb8f6a79c3360a440c399d85df465a6e59351f1

      Source identifier: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

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