Linux Kernel up to 6.19.8 inet6_init null pointer dereference

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6.0$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.166/6.6.129/6.12.77/6.18.18/6.19.8. It has been rated as critical. The impacted element is the function inet6_init. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-43441. No exploit is available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.166/6.6.129/6.12.77/6.18.18/6.19.8. 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: bonding: 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 bonding ARP/NS validation is enabled, an IPv6 NS/NA packet received on a slave can reach bond_validate_na(), which calls bond_has_this_ip6(). That path calls ipv6_chk_addr() and can crash in __ipv6_chk_addr_and_flags(). BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000005d8 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI RIP: 0010:__ipv6_chk_addr_and_flags+0x69/0x170 Call Trace: <IRQ> ipv6_chk_addr+0x1f/0x30 bond_validate_na+0x12e/0x1d0 [bonding] ? __pfx_bond_handle_frame+0x10/0x10 [bonding] bond_rcv_validate+0x1a0/0x450 [bonding] bond_handle_frame+0x5e/0x290 [bonding] ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 __netif_receive_skb_core.constprop.0+0x3e8/0xe50 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? update_cfs_rq_load_avg+0x1a/0x240 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? __enqueue_entity+0x5e/0x240 __netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x39/0xa0 process_backlog+0x9c/0x150 __napi_poll+0x30/0x200 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 net_rx_action+0x338/0x3b0 handle_softirqs+0xc9/0x2a0 do_softirq+0x42/0x60 </IRQ> <TASK> __local_bh_enable_ip+0x62/0x70 __dev_queue_xmit+0x2d3/0x1000 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? packet_parse_headers+0x10a/0x1a0 packet_sendmsg+0x10da/0x1700 ? kick_pool+0x5f/0x140 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 ? __queue_work+0x12d/0x4f0 __sys_sendto+0x1f3/0x220 __x64_sys_sendto+0x24/0x30 do_syscall_64+0x101/0xf80 ? exc_page_fault+0x6e/0x170 ? srso_alias_return_thunk+0x5/0xfbef5 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f </TASK> Fix this by checking ipv6_mod_enabled() before dispatching IPv6 packets to bond_na_rcv(). If IPv6 is disabled, return early from bond_rcv_validate() and avoid the path to ipv6_chk_addr().

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-43441 since 05/01/2026. 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 313450 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-43441), 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, 6.18.19 or 6.19.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 49dbfcb70eca5f6f9043594e1e323c74c39e3863/cf6099ef493b94e140b0fad52482a78853115318/c78f01abe535853f13f0b26cd5b1d2f19bf52e2f/95faa1459b83fa544191e82ccc73856f03b7741f/c9c238066fb254dabf65e27379f93c56112c5b96/30021e969d48e5819d5ae56936c2f34c0f7ce997 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 (313450). 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: 6.1
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.0

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

CNA Base Score: 7.5
CNA Vector (Linux): 🔒

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: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Nessus ID: 313450
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-43441

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.167/6.6.130/6.12.78/6.18.19/6.19.9
Patch: 49dbfcb70eca5f6f9043594e1e323c74c39e3863/cf6099ef493b94e140b0fad52482a78853115318/c78f01abe535853f13f0b26cd5b1d2f19bf52e2f/95faa1459b83fa544191e82ccc73856f03b7741f/c9c238066fb254dabf65e27379f93c56112c5b96/30021e969d48e5819d5ae56936c2f34c0f7ce997

Timelineinfo

05/01/2026 CVE reserved
05/08/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
05/08/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
05/22/2026 +14 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-43441 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-43441
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-362215

Entryinfo

Created: 05/08/2026 18:26
Updated: 05/22/2026 03:43
Changes: 05/08/2026 18:26 (58), 05/09/2026 12:44 (2), 05/22/2026 03:43 (12)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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