Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2 riscv machine_kexec_prepare null pointer dereference

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4.1	$0-$5k	0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2. Impacted is the function machine_kexec_prepare of the component riscv. Executing a manipulation can lead to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-72013. The attack can be executed remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.2-rc2 and classified as problematic. This vulnerability affects the function machine_kexec_prepare of the component riscv. 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 confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: Prevent NULL pointer dereference in machine_kexec_prepare() A NULL pointer dereference issue is noticed in riscv's machine_kexec_prepare(), where image->segment[i].buf might be NULL and copied unchecked. The NULL buf comes from ima_add_kexec_buffer(), where kbuf is added by kexec_add_buffer(), but kbuf.buffer is NULL, then it is copied without a check in machine_kexec_prepare(): kexec_file_load -> kimage_file_alloc_init() -> kimage_file_prepare_segments() -> ima_add_kexec_buffer() -> kexec_add_buffer() -> machine_kexec_prepare() -> memcpy() Address this by adding a check before the data copy attempt.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-72013 since 08/09/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploitation needs additional levels of successful authentication. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, 7.1.5 or 7.2-rc3 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 606cc45e871e34b80a2f63874f069387a5b44176/c462e15497dc40abe369b3be7a2c91ac5d1be6f9/b5f92cc4e24a298bf390b0b189a4b888c0900161/6ad6954492697681ebcfc1beb0eb384406cd4b65/eadd0c2c76aee6a738f17f251434c77db3c606c8/d5b2752a17efc165793ae38f2c24b5ed9c04ffde/81bbcff0c053c4f5c711c31a9b72fc492bd96c3f is able to eliminate this problem.

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Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 5.15.211
• 6.1.177
• 6.6.144
• 6.12.0
• 6.12.1
• 6.12.2
• 6.12.3
• 6.12.4
• 6.12.5
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• 6.12.89
• 6.12.90
• 6.12.91
• 6.12.92
• 6.12.93
• 6.12.94
• 6.12.95
• 6.12.96
• 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
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• 6.18.13
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• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 7.1.0
• 7.1.1
• 7.1.2
• 7.1.3
• 7.1.4
• 7.2-rc1
• 7.2-rc2

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.1

VulDB Base Score: 4.3
VulDB Temp Score: 4.1
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

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: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Threat Intelligenceinfo

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

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 5.15.212/6.1.178/6.6.145/6.12.97/6.18.40/7.1.5/7.2-rc3
Patch: 606cc45e871e34b80a2f63874f069387a5b44176/c462e15497dc40abe369b3be7a2c91ac5d1be6f9/b5f92cc4e24a298bf390b0b189a4b888c0900161/6ad6954492697681ebcfc1beb0eb384406cd4b65/eadd0c2c76aee6a738f17f251434c77db3c606c8/d5b2752a17efc165793ae38f2c24b5ed9c04ffde/81bbcff0c053c4f5c711c31a9b72fc492bd96c3f

Timelineinfo

08/09/2026 CVE reserved
08/15/2026 +6 days Advisory disclosed
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-2026-72013 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-72013
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-390406

Entryinfo

Created: 08/15/2026 10:59
Changes: 08/15/2026 10:59 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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