Linux Kernel up to 6.19-rc3 lib/vsprintf.c nla_parse_deprecated uninitialized pointer

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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5.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.159/6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.3/6.19-rc3 and classified as critical. The affected element is the function nla_parse_deprecated in the library lib/vsprintf.c. Performing a manipulation results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-71096. No exploit is available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.159/6.6.119/6.12.63/6.18.3/6.19-rc3. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function nla_parse_deprecated in the library lib/vsprintf.c. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a uninitialized pointer vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-824. The product accesses or uses a pointer that has not been initialized. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: RDMA/core: Check for the presence of LS_NLA_TYPE_DGID correctly The netlink response for RDMA_NL_LS_OP_IP_RESOLVE should always have a LS_NLA_TYPE_DGID attribute, it is invalid if it does not. Use the nl parsing logic properly and call nla_parse_deprecated() to fill the nlattrs array and then directly index that array to get the data for the DGID. Just fail if it is NULL. Remove the for loop searching for the nla, and squash the validation and parsing into one function. Fixes an uninitialized read from the stack triggered by userspace if it does not provide the DGID to a kernel initiated RDMA_NL_LS_OP_IP_RESOLVE query. BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in hex_byte_pack include/linux/hex.h:13 [inline] BUG: KMSAN: uninit-value in ip6_string+0xef4/0x13a0 lib/vsprintf.c:1490 hex_byte_pack include/linux/hex.h:13 [inline] ip6_string+0xef4/0x13a0 lib/vsprintf.c:1490 ip6_addr_string+0x18a/0x3e0 lib/vsprintf.c:1509 ip_addr_string+0x245/0xee0 lib/vsprintf.c:1633 pointer+0xc09/0x1bd0 lib/vsprintf.c:2542 vsnprintf+0xf8a/0x1bd0 lib/vsprintf.c:2930 vprintk_store+0x3ae/0x1530 kernel/printk/printk.c:2279 vprintk_emit+0x307/0xcd0 kernel/printk/printk.c:2426 vprintk_default+0x3f/0x50 kernel/printk/printk.c:2465 vprintk+0x36/0x50 kernel/printk/printk_safe.c:82 _printk+0x17e/0x1b0 kernel/printk/printk.c:2475 ib_nl_process_good_ip_rsep drivers/infiniband/core/addr.c:128 [inline] ib_nl_handle_ip_res_resp+0x963/0x9d0 drivers/infiniband/core/addr.c:141 rdma_nl_rcv_msg drivers/infiniband/core/netlink.c:-1 [inline] rdma_nl_rcv_skb drivers/infiniband/core/netlink.c:239 [inline] rdma_nl_rcv+0xefa/0x11c0 drivers/infiniband/core/netlink.c:259 netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1320 [inline] netlink_unicast+0xf04/0x12b0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1346 netlink_sendmsg+0x10b3/0x1250 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1896 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:714 [inline] __sock_sendmsg+0x333/0x3d0 net/socket.c:729 ____sys_sendmsg+0x7e0/0xd80 net/socket.c:2617 ___sys_sendmsg+0x271/0x3b0 net/socket.c:2671 __sys_sendmsg+0x1aa/0x300 net/socket.c:2703 __compat_sys_sendmsg net/compat.c:346 [inline] __do_compat_sys_sendmsg net/compat.c:353 [inline] __se_compat_sys_sendmsg net/compat.c:350 [inline] __ia32_compat_sys_sendmsg+0xa4/0x100 net/compat.c:350 ia32_sys_call+0x3f6c/0x4310 arch/x86/include/generated/asm/syscalls_32.h:371 do_syscall_32_irqs_on arch/x86/entry/syscall_32.c:83 [inline] __do_fast_syscall_32+0xb0/0x150 arch/x86/entry/syscall_32.c:306 do_fast_syscall_32+0x38/0x80 arch/x86/entry/syscall_32.c:331 do_SYSENTER_32+0x1f/0x30 arch/x86/entry/syscall_32.c:3

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2025-71096 since 01/13/2026. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 03/25/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 298236 (SUSE SLES16 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2026:20220-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.160, 6.6.120, 6.12.64, 6.18.4 or 6.19-rc4 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 45532638de5da24c201aa2a9b3dd4b054064de7b/9d85524789c2f17c0e87de8d596bcccc3683a1fc/acadd4097d25d6bd472bcb3f9f3eba2b5105d1ec/0b948afc1ded88b3562c893114387f34389eeb94/a7b8e876e0ef0232b8076972c57ce9a7286b47ca is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (298236) and EUVD (EUVD-2026-2214). Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.4

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Uninitialized pointer
CWE: CWE-824 / CWE-908
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 298236
Nessus Name: SUSE SLES16 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2026:20220-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.160/6.6.120/6.12.64/6.18.4/6.19-rc4
Patch: 45532638de5da24c201aa2a9b3dd4b054064de7b/9d85524789c2f17c0e87de8d596bcccc3683a1fc/acadd4097d25d6bd472bcb3f9f3eba2b5105d1ec/0b948afc1ded88b3562c893114387f34389eeb94/a7b8e876e0ef0232b8076972c57ce9a7286b47ca

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 Advisory disclosed
01/13/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
01/13/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/25/2026 +71 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-71096 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-71096
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-340665
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 01/13/2026 17:45
Updated: 03/25/2026 19:13
Changes: 01/13/2026 17:45 (59), 01/20/2026 09:28 (1), 02/07/2026 12:13 (2), 03/25/2026 19:13 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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