Linux Kernel up to 6.18.2/6.19-rc2 preempt_prepare_postamble null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.
Current Exploit Price (≈)
Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.
CTI Interest Score
Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.2/6.19-rc2. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function preempt_prepare_postamble. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2025-71124. There is not any exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.2/6.19-rc2. Affected by this vulnerability is the function preempt_prepare_postamble. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is CWE-476. A NULL pointer dereference occurs when the application dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid, but is NULL, typically causing a crash or exit. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/msm/a6xx: move preempt_prepare_postamble after error check Move the call to preempt_prepare_postamble() after verifying that preempt_postamble_ptr is valid. If preempt_postamble_ptr is NULL, dereferencing it in preempt_prepare_postamble() would lead to a crash. This change avoids calling the preparation function when the postamble allocation has failed, preventing potential NULL pointer dereference and ensuring proper error handling. Patchwork: https://patchwork.freedesktop.org/patch/687659/

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2025-71124 since 01/13/2026. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 284712 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-71124), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.18.3 or 6.19-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 2c46497eb148ec61909f4101b8443f3c4c2daaec/ef3b04091fd8bc737dc45312375df8625b8318e2 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 (284712) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0119). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Temp Score: 5.5
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
💳💳💳💳💳💳
VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
UnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

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

Exploitinginfo

Class: Null pointer dereference
CWE: CWE-476 / CWE-404
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

0-DayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock
TodayUnlockUnlockUnlockUnlock

Nessus ID: 284712
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2025-71124

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.3/6.19-rc3
Patch: 2c46497eb148ec61909f4101b8443f3c4c2daaec/ef3b04091fd8bc737dc45312375df8625b8318e2

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
01/14/2026 +1 days Advisory disclosed
01/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
03/25/2026 +70 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2025-71124 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2025-71124
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-341101
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0119 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 01/14/2026 17:53
Updated: 03/25/2026 22:03
Changes: 01/14/2026 17:53 (58), 01/16/2026 05:17 (7), 01/16/2026 10:10 (2), 03/25/2026 22:03 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Want to stay up to date on a daily basis?

Enable the mail alert feature now!