Linux Kernel up to 7.0-rc2 inet6_init null pointer dereference

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Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.0-rc2. Affected is the function inet6_init. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-23293. There is not any exploit available. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.0-rc2 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function inet6_init. 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: vxlan: fix nd_tbl NULL dereference when IPv6 is disabled When booting with the 'ipv6.disable=1' parameter, the nd_tbl is never initialized because inet6_init() exits before ndisc_init() is called which initializes it. If an IPv6 packet is injected into the interface, route_shortcircuit() is called and a NULL pointer dereference happens on neigh_lookup(). BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000380 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI [...] RIP: 0010:neigh_lookup+0x20/0x270 [...] Call Trace: <TASK> vxlan_xmit+0x638/0x1ef0 [vxlan] dev_hard_start_xmit+0x9e/0x2e0 __dev_queue_xmit+0xbee/0x14e0 packet_sendmsg+0x116f/0x1930 __sys_sendto+0x1f5/0x200 __x64_sys_sendto+0x24/0x30 do_syscall_64+0x12f/0x1590 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e Fix this by adding an early check on route_shortcircuit() when protocol is ETH_P_IPV6. Note that ipv6_mod_enabled() cannot be used here because VXLAN can be built-in even when IPv6 is built as a module.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-23293 since 01/13/2026. The exploitation appears to be difficult. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 311340 (Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.18, kernel6.18, kernel6.18-devel (ALAS2023-2026-1596)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.167, 6.6.130, 6.12.77, 6.18.17, 6.19.7 or 7.0-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch b5190fcd75a1f1785c766a8d1e44d3938e168f45/5f93e6b4d12bd3a4517a6d447ea675f448f21434/f0373e9317bc904e7bdb123d3106fe4f3cea2fb7/fbbd2118982c55fb9b0a753ae0cf7194e77149fb/abcd48ecdeb2e12eccb8339a35534c757782afcd/168ff39e4758897d2eee4756977d036d52884c7e 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 (311340) and CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-0861). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • Google Cloud Platform
  • Amazon Linux 2
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux
  • Ubuntu Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • SUSE openSUSE
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • RESF Rocky Linux
  • F5 BIG-IP

Productinfo

Type

Vendor

Name

Version

License

Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.8
VulDB Temp Score: 4.6
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.5
NVD Vector: 🔒

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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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: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 311340
Nessus Name: Amazon Linux 2023 : bpftool6.18, kernel6.18, kernel6.18-devel (ALAS2023-2026-1596)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.167/6.6.130/6.12.77/6.18.17/6.19.7/7.0-rc3
Patch: b5190fcd75a1f1785c766a8d1e44d3938e168f45/5f93e6b4d12bd3a4517a6d447ea675f448f21434/f0373e9317bc904e7bdb123d3106fe4f3cea2fb7/fbbd2118982c55fb9b0a753ae0cf7194e77149fb/abcd48ecdeb2e12eccb8339a35534c757782afcd/168ff39e4758897d2eee4756977d036d52884c7e

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
03/25/2026 +71 days Advisory disclosed
03/25/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
07/02/2026 +98 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23293 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23293
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-353011
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-0861 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 03/25/2026 12:47
Updated: 07/02/2026 01:25
Changes: 03/25/2026 12:47 (58), 03/26/2026 03:49 (7), 03/30/2026 00:43 (2), 05/01/2026 21:04 (2), 06/01/2026 01:20 (11), 06/16/2026 14:27 (1), 07/02/2026 01:25 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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