Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8 fw_tracer fw_tracer.c mlx5_fw_tracer_trigger_core_dump_general null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.2$0-$5k1.75

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8. This affects the function mlx5_fw_tracer_trigger_core_dump_general of the file drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/fw_tracer.c of the component fw_tracer. The manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is documented as CVE-2026-74717. The attack can be initiated remotely. There is not any exploit available.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 7.1.8. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects the function mlx5_fw_tracer_trigger_core_dump_general of the file drivers/net/ethernet/mellanox/mlx5/core/fw_tracer.c of the component fw_tracer. The manipulation 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: net/mlx5: fw_tracer, return NULL on create error Tracer creation can fail by returning either NULL or ERR_PTR. The return value is stored without a check on the device, and users treat ERR_PTR and NULL the same way. This also causes a crash in the core dump logic, which is missing the ERR_PTR check and ends up dereferencing it, as shown in the trace below. Switch tracer creation to return NULL on failure only, so callers only need a single NULL check. Internal error: Oops: 0000000096000006 [#1] SMP Modules linked in: mlx5_ib ib_uverbs ib_core ipv6 mlx5_core CPU: 1 UID: 0 PID: 12 Comm: kworker/u16:0 Not tainted 6.19.7 #1 PREEMPT(none) Workqueue: mlx5_health0001:01:00.0 mlx5_fw_reporter_err_work [mlx5_core] pstate: a3400009 (NzCv daif +PAN -UAO +TCO +DIT -SSBS BTYPE=--) pc : mlx5_fw_tracer_trigger_core_dump_general+0x58/0xe0 [mlx5_core] lr : mlx5_fw_tracer_trigger_core_dump_general+0x40/0xe0 [mlx5_core] sp : ffff800081cf3c40 x29: ffff800081cf3c90 x28: 0000000000000000 x27: 0000000000000000 x26: ffff000080018828 x25: 0000000000000000 x24: ffff000080304a05 x23: ffff800081cf3d80 x22: ffff0000847e01a0 x21: 0000000000000000 x20: ffff0000847e01a0 x19: ffffffffffffffa1 x18: ffff80008310bbf0 x17: ffff800080119650 x16: ffff80008010df54 x15: ffff80008010d4ac x14: ffff800079c202e4 x13: ffff80008002fe60 x12: ffff800080119650 x11: ffff80008010df54 x10: ffff80008010d4ac x9 : ffff800079c203d8 x8 : ffff800081cf3c88 x7 : 0000000000000000 x6 : 0000000000000000 x5 : 0000000000000000 x4 : 0000000000000008 x3 : 0000000000000030 x2 : 0000000000000008 x1 : 0000000000000000 x0 : 00000000c5c4000e Call trace: mlx5_fw_tracer_trigger_core_dump_general+0x58/0xe0 [mlx5_core] (P) mlx5_fw_reporter_dump+0x30/0x2e0 [mlx5_core] devlink_health_do_dump+0x9c/0x160 devlink_health_report+0x1c0/0x288 mlx5_fw_reporter_err_work+0xac/0xc0 [mlx5_core] process_one_work+0x15c/0x3d8 worker_thread+0x18c/0x320 kthread+0x148/0x228 ret_from_fork+0x10/0x20 Code: b9400000 5ac00800 7a401800 540003ca (3940a260) ---[ end trace 0000000000000000 ]--- Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception SMP: stopping secondary CPUs Kernel Offset: disabled CPU features: 0x000000,00078031,75fce5a1,35fffe67 Memory Limit: none ---[ end Kernel panic - not syncing: Oops: Fatal exception ]---

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-74717 since 08/15/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. 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 08/22/2026).

Upgrading to version 5.10.265, 5.15.216, 6.1.183, 6.6.152, 6.12.104, 6.18.45 or 7.1.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 47fe0d2571e5b446a0f0b0c1d6b99f55e51f5cc0/ee41ea49c4ab0e4015919f52ad23ec251d3b39d3/04599570c3a18f9ae7aad36825eb46f3dcd2c4e3/9a416f000285a94c1b723877547981dec8132434/b1d6375b9a63c9dc7e5e780d3ea9b126fe30d6cb/80094352bd40ba54a33731f9c22872493983ed6d/4aafa600d93e9551c1f24e785d57cbd4adf021d5/af39eb111ce6b5eba9c08513b62c4868eb7e7fd5 is able to eliminate this problem.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at EUVD (EUVD-2026-64404). Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
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 5.10.265/5.15.216/6.1.183/6.6.152/6.12.104/6.18.45/7.1.9
Patch: 47fe0d2571e5b446a0f0b0c1d6b99f55e51f5cc0/ee41ea49c4ab0e4015919f52ad23ec251d3b39d3/04599570c3a18f9ae7aad36825eb46f3dcd2c4e3/9a416f000285a94c1b723877547981dec8132434/b1d6375b9a63c9dc7e5e780d3ea9b126fe30d6cb/80094352bd40ba54a33731f9c22872493983ed6d/4aafa600d93e9551c1f24e785d57cbd4adf021d5/af39eb111ce6b5eba9c08513b62c4868eb7e7fd5

Timelineinfo

08/15/2026 CVE reserved
08/22/2026 +7 days Advisory disclosed
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
08/22/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-74717 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-74717
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-394451
EUVD: 🔒

Entryinfo

Created: 08/22/2026 18:47
Updated: 08/22/2026 22:07
Changes: 08/22/2026 18:47 (60), 08/22/2026 22:07 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

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