Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7/6.19-rc6 kernel/workqueue.c led_init_core uninitialized pointer

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.6$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7/6.19-rc6. This affects the function led_init_core of the file kernel/workqueue.c. The manipulation results in uninitialized pointer. This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2026-23101. There is not any exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.121/6.12.67/6.18.7/6.19-rc6. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function led_init_core of the file kernel/workqueue.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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: leds: led-class: Only Add LED to leds_list when it is fully ready Before this change the LED was added to leds_list before led_init_core() gets called adding it the list before led_classdev.set_brightness_work gets initialized. This leaves a window where led_trigger_register() of a LED's default trigger will call led_trigger_set() which calls led_set_brightness() which in turn will end up queueing the *uninitialized* led_classdev.set_brightness_work. This race gets hit by the lenovo-thinkpad-t14s EC driver which registers 2 LEDs with a default trigger provided by snd_ctl_led.ko in quick succession. The first led_classdev_register() causes an async modprobe of snd_ctl_led to run and that async modprobe manages to exactly hit the window where the second LED is on the leds_list without led_init_core() being called for it, resulting in: ------------[ cut here ]------------ WARNING: CPU: 11 PID: 5608 at kernel/workqueue.c:4234 __flush_work+0x344/0x390 Hardware name: LENOVO 21N2S01F0B/21N2S01F0B, BIOS N42ET93W (2.23 ) 09/01/2025 ... Call trace: __flush_work+0x344/0x390 (P) flush_work+0x2c/0x50 led_trigger_set+0x1c8/0x340 led_trigger_register+0x17c/0x1c0 led_trigger_register_simple+0x84/0xe8 snd_ctl_led_init+0x40/0xf88 [snd_ctl_led] do_one_initcall+0x5c/0x318 do_init_module+0x9c/0x2b8 load_module+0x7e0/0x998 Close the race window by moving the adding of the LED to leds_list to after the led_init_core() call.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-23101 since 01/13/2026. The exploitability is told to be difficult. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit. The structure of the vulnerability defines a possible price range of USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 05/03/2026).

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 297904 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23101), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.122, 6.12.68, 6.18.8 or 6.19-rc7 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 2757f7748ce2d0fa44112024907bafb37e104d6e/da565bf98c9ad0eabcb09fc97859e0b52f98b7c3/78822628165f3d817382f67f91129161159ca234/d1883cefd31752f0504b94c3bcfa1f6d511d6e87 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 (297904) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0324). If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Affected

  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • IBM QRadar SIEM
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel

Productinfo

Type

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Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.6

VulDB Base Score: 4.6
VulDB Temp Score: 4.4
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 4.7
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: 297904
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23101

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.122/6.12.68/6.18.8/6.19-rc7
Patch: 2757f7748ce2d0fa44112024907bafb37e104d6e/da565bf98c9ad0eabcb09fc97859e0b52f98b7c3/78822628165f3d817382f67f91129161159ca234/d1883cefd31752f0504b94c3bcfa1f6d511d6e87

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
02/04/2026 +22 days Advisory disclosed
02/04/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/03/2026 +88 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23101 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23101
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-344346
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0324 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 02/04/2026 18:28
Updated: 05/03/2026 19:44
Changes: 02/04/2026 18:28 (59), 02/06/2026 22:59 (2), 03/19/2026 20:39 (11), 05/03/2026 19:44 (7)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

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