Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3 ceph_handle_auth_reply zero null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3. The impacted element is the function ceph_handle_auth_reply. The manipulation of the argument zero leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-46024. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function ceph_handle_auth_reply. The manipulation of the argument zero with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to 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. Impacted is availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: libceph: Prevent potential null-ptr-deref in ceph_handle_auth_reply() If a message of type CEPH_MSG_AUTH_REPLY contains a zero value for both protocol and result, this is currently not treated as an error. In case of ac->negotiating == true and ac->protocol > 0, this leads to setting ac->protocol = 0 and ac->ops = NULL. Thereafter, the check for ac->protocol != protocol returns false, and init_protocol() is not called. Subsequently, ac->ops->handle_reply() is called, which leads to a null pointer dereference, because ac->ops is still NULL. This patch changes the check for ac->protocol != protocol to !ac->protocol, as this also includes the case when the protocol was set to zero in the message. This causes the message to be treated as containing a bad auth protocol.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-46024 since 05/13/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 321690 (SUSE SLES12 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2026:2450-1)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27, 7.0.4 or 7.1-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 4b2738b93edad661178340239de657d876b73d3d/927e4bd5692f2a4901808822981fb2c8d4456548/016bc663657366d386993f63eb31072eb45a2b77/8f2be7285941a33a9f72579a23b96392f83c758e/5199c125d25aeae8615c4fc31652cc0fe624338e 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 (321690). 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: 6.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.5

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

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

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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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: 321690
Nessus Name: SUSE SLES12 Security Update : kernel (SUSE-SU-2026:2450-1)

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.6.140/6.12.86/6.18.27/7.0.4/7.1-rc1
Patch: 4b2738b93edad661178340239de657d876b73d3d/927e4bd5692f2a4901808822981fb2c8d4456548/016bc663657366d386993f63eb31072eb45a2b77/8f2be7285941a33a9f72579a23b96392f83c758e/5199c125d25aeae8615c4fc31652cc0fe624338e

Timelineinfo

05/13/2026 CVE reserved
05/27/2026 +14 days Advisory disclosed
05/27/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
06/22/2026 +26 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-46024 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-46024
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-366263

Entryinfo

Created: 05/27/2026 17:23
Updated: 06/22/2026 14:44
Changes: 05/27/2026 17:23 (59), 06/17/2026 00:01 (11), 06/22/2026 14:44 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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