Linux Kernel up to 6.12.96/6.18.39/7.1.4 PFCP pfcp_link_setup null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k0.95

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability marked as critical has been reported in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.96/6.18.39/7.1.4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function pfcp_link_setup of the component PFCP. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-74286. The attack is possible to be carried out remotely. No exploit exists.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.96/6.18.39/7.1.4. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function pfcp_link_setup of the component PFCP. 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: pfcp: allocate per-cpu tstats for PFCP netdevs PFCP uses dev_get_tstats64() as its ndo_get_stats64 callback, but pfcp_link_setup() does not request NETDEV_PCPU_STAT_TSTATS. The net core therefore leaves dev->tstats NULL for PFCP devices. Creating a PFCP rtnetlink device can immediately ask the new netdev for stats while building the RTM_NEWLINK notification. That reaches dev_get_tstats64() and dereferences the NULL dev->tstats pointer. Set pcpu_stat_type to NETDEV_PCPU_STAT_TSTATS during PFCP link setup so the net core allocates the storage expected by dev_get_tstats64().

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-74286 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 08/15/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 56b4ad500fd1282ef04db3c4beae5b54ab093a53/51a1d9836acc76a1bd16170b2f4b35f11036593f/67e4b283de36d9eebf95acdea5d6674b6ef4b2f4/24041543da8cd84eb5d8ae738c534372fff54820 is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

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
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc1
Patch: 56b4ad500fd1282ef04db3c4beae5b54ab093a53/51a1d9836acc76a1bd16170b2f4b35f11036593f/67e4b283de36d9eebf95acdea5d6674b6ef4b2f4/24041543da8cd84eb5d8ae738c534372fff54820

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 Advisory disclosed
08/15/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/15/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74286 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74286
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390247

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 08:58
Changes: 08/15/2026 08:58 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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