Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc3/6.19-rc4 msg_get_inq 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 classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc3/6.19-rc4. Affected by this issue is the function msg_get_inq. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-22983. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.5/6.19-rc3/6.19-rc4 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function msg_get_inq. 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: net: do not write to msg_get_inq in callee NULL pointer dereference fix. msg_get_inq is an input field from caller to callee. Don't set it in the callee, as the caller may not clear it on struct reuse. This is a kernel-internal variant of msghdr only, and the only user does reinitialize the field. So this is not critical for that reason. But it is more robust to avoid the write, and slightly simpler code. And it fixes a bug, see below. Callers set msg_get_inq to request the input queue length to be returned in msg_inq. This is equivalent to but independent from the SO_INQ request to return that same info as a cmsg (tp->recvmsg_inq). To reduce branching in the hot path the second also sets the msg_inq. That is WAI. This is a fix to commit 4d1442979e4a ("af_unix: don't post cmsg for SO_INQ unless explicitly asked for"), which fixed the inverse. Also avoid NULL pointer dereference in unix_stream_read_generic if state->msg is NULL and msg->msg_get_inq is written. A NULL state->msg can happen when splicing as of commit 2b514574f7e8 ("net: af_unix: implement splice for stream af_unix sockets"). Also collapse two branches using a bitwise or.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-22983 since 01/13/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 296406 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-22983), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.18.6, 6.19-rc4 or 6.19-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ffa2be496ef65055b28b39c6bd9a7d66943ee89a/7d11e047eda5f98514ae62507065ac961981c025 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 (296406) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0215). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • NetApp ActiveIQ Unified Manager
  • 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: 296406
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-22983

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.6/6.19-rc4/6.19-rc5
Patch: ffa2be496ef65055b28b39c6bd9a7d66943ee89a/7d11e047eda5f98514ae62507065ac961981c025

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
01/23/2026 +10 days Advisory disclosed
01/23/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/18/2026 +115 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-22983 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-22983
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-342607
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0215 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 01/23/2026 17:34
Updated: 05/18/2026 03:45
Changes: 01/23/2026 17:34 (58), 01/25/2026 04:54 (2), 02/26/2026 20:20 (10), 03/02/2026 10:01 (7), 05/18/2026 03:45 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

◂ PreviousOverviewNext ▸

Might our Artificial Intelligence support you?

Check our Alexa App!