Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3 Freed Service caif_connect null pointer dereference

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. This affects the function caif_connect of the component Freed Service. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-46098. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.139/6.12.85/6.18.26/7.0.3. Affected by this vulnerability is the function caif_connect of the component Freed Service. 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: caif: clear client service pointer on teardown `caif_connect()` can tear down an existing client after remote shutdown by calling `caif_disconnect_client()` followed by `caif_free_client()`. `caif_free_client()` releases the service layer referenced by `adap_layer->dn`, but leaves that pointer stale. When the socket is later destroyed, `caif_sock_destructor()` calls `caif_free_client()` again and dereferences the freed service pointer. Clear the client/service links before releasing the service object so repeated teardown becomes harmless.

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-46098 since 05/13/2026. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit.

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 914c6456fcfc21a3d553945dff62fd1621d6155d/3ac6db584d9d420267bb8413115707eeec76d9cf/63d21a3aa0108b9dde4e99b0d3d5d679ac68c0f9/a4b191ddc12c55ddb62feb096536f819f384d6f1/f7cf8ece8cee3c1ee361991470cdb1eb65ab02e8 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.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.139
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
• 6.12.6
• 6.12.7
• 6.12.8
• 6.12.9
• 6.12.10
• 6.12.11
• 6.12.12
• 6.12.13
• 6.12.14
• 6.12.15
• 6.12.16
• 6.12.17
• 6.12.18
• 6.12.19
• 6.12.20
• 6.12.21
• 6.12.22
• 6.12.23
• 6.12.24
• 6.12.25
• 6.12.26
• 6.12.27
• 6.12.28
• 6.12.29
• 6.12.30
• 6.12.31
• 6.12.32
• 6.12.33
• 6.12.34
• 6.12.35
• 6.12.36
• 6.12.37
• 6.12.38
• 6.12.39
• 6.12.40
• 6.12.41
• 6.12.42
• 6.12.43
• 6.12.44
• 6.12.45
• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
• 6.12.52
• 6.12.53
• 6.12.54
• 6.12.55
• 6.12.56
• 6.12.57
• 6.12.58
• 6.12.59
• 6.12.60
• 6.12.61
• 6.12.62
• 6.12.63
• 6.12.64
• 6.12.65
• 6.12.66
• 6.12.67
• 6.12.68
• 6.12.69
• 6.12.70
• 6.12.71
• 6.12.72
• 6.12.73
• 6.12.74
• 6.12.75
• 6.12.76
• 6.12.77
• 6.12.78
• 6.12.79
• 6.12.80
• 6.12.81
• 6.12.82
• 6.12.83
• 6.12.84
• 6.12.85
• 6.18.0
• 6.18.1
• 6.18.2
• 6.18.3
• 6.18.4
• 6.18.5
• 6.18.6
• 6.18.7
• 6.18.8
• 6.18.9
• 6.18.10
• 6.18.11
• 6.18.12
• 6.18.13
• 6.18.14
• 6.18.15
• 6.18.16
• 6.18.17
• 6.18.18
• 6.18.19
• 6.18.20
• 6.18.21
• 6.18.22
• 6.18.23
• 6.18.24
• 6.18.25
• 6.18.26
• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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