Linux Kernel up to 7.0-rc4 rose_connect sk_state null pointer dereference

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CTI Interest Score
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5.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 7.0-rc4. The affected element is the function rose_connect. Performing a manipulation of the argument sk_state results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-23460. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.0-rc4. It has been classified as critical. This affects the function rose_connect. The manipulation of the argument sk_state with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/rose: fix NULL pointer dereference in rose_transmit_link on reconnect syzkaller reported a bug [1], and the reproducer is available at [2]. ROSE sockets use four sk->sk_state values: TCP_CLOSE, TCP_LISTEN, TCP_SYN_SENT, and TCP_ESTABLISHED. rose_connect() already rejects calls for TCP_ESTABLISHED (-EISCONN) and TCP_CLOSE with SS_CONNECTING (-ECONNREFUSED), but lacks a check for TCP_SYN_SENT. When rose_connect() is called a second time while the first connection attempt is still in progress (TCP_SYN_SENT), it overwrites rose->neighbour via rose_get_neigh(). If that returns NULL, the socket is left with rose->state == ROSE_STATE_1 but rose->neighbour == NULL. When the socket is subsequently closed, rose_release() sees ROSE_STATE_1 and calls rose_write_internal() -> rose_transmit_link(skb, NULL), causing a NULL pointer dereference. Per connect(2), a second connect() while a connection is already in progress should return -EALREADY. Add this missing check for TCP_SYN_SENT to complete the state validation in rose_connect(). [1] https://syzkaller.appspot.com/bug?extid=d00f90e0af54102fb271 [2] https://gist.github.com/mrpre/9e6779e0d13e2c66779b1653fef80516

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-23460 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 304984 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23460), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.167, 6.6.130, 6.12.78, 6.18.20, 6.19.10 or 7.0-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch c2ab74c12932e52cfa1e7e4582d42b0c8bec96c7/0c9fb70a206a8734e10468ecc24d57c7596cf64e/508f49ccbe0329641bb681f7d0052bb4e5943252/0c3e8bff808f17ad37a51d8e719eed22c7863120/a12254050e3050f1011cd24f3b880a6882d0139d/e1f0a18c9564cdb16523c802e2c6fe5874e3d944 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 vulnerability database at Tenable (304984). Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 5.7
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.5

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

CVSSv2info

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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: No
Local: No
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 304984
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-23460

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.167/6.6.130/6.12.78/6.18.20/6.19.10/7.0-rc5
Patch: c2ab74c12932e52cfa1e7e4582d42b0c8bec96c7/0c9fb70a206a8734e10468ecc24d57c7596cf64e/508f49ccbe0329641bb681f7d0052bb4e5943252/0c3e8bff808f17ad37a51d8e719eed22c7863120/a12254050e3050f1011cd24f3b880a6882d0139d/e1f0a18c9564cdb16523c802e2c6fe5874e3d944

Timelineinfo

01/13/2026 CVE reserved
04/03/2026 +79 days Advisory disclosed
04/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/07/2026 +4 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-23460 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-23460
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-355119

Entryinfo

Created: 04/03/2026 18:05
Updated: 04/07/2026 20:41
Changes: 04/03/2026 18:05 (59), 04/07/2026 20:41 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:FB4:103

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

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