Linux Kernel up to 7.0.9 Bluetooth hci_register_dev proto null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.0.9. Affected by this vulnerability is the function hci_register_dev of the component Bluetooth. The manipulation of the argument proto results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is reported as CVE-2026-53073. No exploit exists. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.0.9. It has been classified as critical. Affected is the function hci_register_dev of the component Bluetooth. The manipulation of the argument proto 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: Bluetooth: hci_ldisc: Clear HCI_UART_PROTO_INIT on error When hci_register_dev() fails in hci_uart_register_dev() HCI_UART_PROTO_INIT is not cleared before calling hu->proto->close(hu) and setting hu->hdev to NULL. This means incoming UART data will reach the protocol-specific recv handler in hci_uart_tty_receive() after resources are freed. Clear HCI_UART_PROTO_INIT with a write lock before calling hu->proto->close() and setting hu->hdev to NULL. The write lock ensures all active readers have completed and no new reader can enter the protocol recv path before resources are freed. This allows the protocol-specific recv functions to remove the "HCI_UART_REGISTERED" guard without risking a null pointer dereference if hci_register_dev() fails.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-53073 since 06/09/2026. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 5.10.258, 5.15.209, 6.1.175, 6.6.141, 6.12.91, 6.18.33 or 7.0.10 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ebb39b2d81731b83ee71a1ba6dd0291a57b5ac07/ed4033fb85ccaaf6c3983be3c7b037e48253d232/356dee1bcac4d0d9152390561fa63331ebff211b/a673cf6c4ac702cb79ac1f4d7fc4de763a6a3e40/f4b69c35813c432973d340d3600c01de106ed474/3daa5818e473ed60eb69d8b5c71b651909d28c5a/194f029a4d7f739e44ebc1f473120187b4de5104/68d39ea5e0adc9ecaea1ce8abd842ec972eb8718 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

• 5.10.257
• 5.15.208
• 6.1.174
• 6.6.140
• 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
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• 6.12.20
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• 6.12.23
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• 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
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• 6.12.46
• 6.12.47
• 6.12.48
• 6.12.49
• 6.12.50
• 6.12.51
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• 6.12.53
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• 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
• 6.12.86
• 6.12.87
• 6.12.88
• 6.12.89
• 6.12.90
• 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
• 6.18.27
• 6.18.28
• 6.18.29
• 6.18.30
• 6.18.31
• 6.18.32
• 7.0.0
• 7.0.1
• 7.0.2
• 7.0.3
• 7.0.4
• 7.0.5
• 7.0.6
• 7.0.7
• 7.0.8
• 7.0.9

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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CPE 2.2info

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Entryinfo

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