Linux Kernel up to 6.19.5 staging rtw_free_network_nolock 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 described as critical has been identified in Linux Kernel up to 6.19.5. Affected by this issue is the function rtw_free_network_nolock of the component staging. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-43159. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.19.5. This vulnerability affects the function rtw_free_network_nolock of the component staging. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: staging: rtl8723bs: fix null dereference in find_network The variable pwlan has the possibility of being NULL when passed into rtw_free_network_nolock() which would later dereference the variable.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-43159 since 05/01/2026. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 5.10.253, 5.15.202, 6.1.165, 6.6.128, 6.12.75, 6.18.16 or 6.19.6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 3b1d0c9a1f78836d0bce6fdd37f596f22c19b03e/1aa9c59f4b96a9056c02476c7ca89e96d15e0645/48b4dec3a8bfd667cd0cd767eaf511176193e9a1/cc3f83b6fb3773ad943365d1cd774b4ec050332e/04d24a3654ed195485bc6346a9ef326fc494a34e/677490a6bd4c63acdf6f48e4aaf6a23d7e6a446f/7fa16ffed2b9d9d44940990c1f31159770769aeb/41460a19654c32d39fd0e3a3671cd8d4b7b8479f 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.

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

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

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.10.253/5.15.202/6.1.165/6.6.128/6.12.75/6.18.16/6.19.6
Patch: 3b1d0c9a1f78836d0bce6fdd37f596f22c19b03e/1aa9c59f4b96a9056c02476c7ca89e96d15e0645/48b4dec3a8bfd667cd0cd767eaf511176193e9a1/cc3f83b6fb3773ad943365d1cd774b4ec050332e/04d24a3654ed195485bc6346a9ef326fc494a34e/677490a6bd4c63acdf6f48e4aaf6a23d7e6a446f/7fa16ffed2b9d9d44940990c1f31159770769aeb/41460a19654c32d39fd0e3a3671cd8d4b7b8479f

Timelineinfo

05/01/2026 CVE reserved
05/06/2026 +5 days Advisory disclosed
05/06/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/17/2026 +11 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-43159 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-43159
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-361450

Entryinfo

Created: 05/06/2026 16:47
Updated: 05/17/2026 14:14
Changes: 05/06/2026 16:47 (59), 05/17/2026 14:14 (10)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

Discussion

No comments yet. Languages: en.

Please log in to comment.

Might our Artificial Intelligence support you?

Check our Alexa App!