Linux Kernel up to 6.12.108/6.18.49/7.2.3 tracing event_test_stuff null pointer dereference

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4.2	$0-$5k	0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.108/6.18.49/7.2.3 and classified as problematic. This affects the function event_test_stuff of the component tracing. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-89749. Local access is required to approach this attack. No exploit exists. It is suggested to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.108/6.18.49/7.2.3 and classified as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function event_test_stuff of the component tracing. 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. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: tracing: Fix crash passing ERR_PTR to kthread_stop() event_test_stuff() calls kthread_run() and unconditionally passes the returned task_struct pointer to kthread_stop(). kthread_run() returns an error pointer such as ERR_PTR(-ENOMEM) when kthread creation fails, for example under memory pressure during the boot-time event self-test. kthread_stop() then dereferences the invalid pointer, crashing the kernel. Check the result of kthread_run() before passing it to kthread_stop(). Use WARN_ON() so that a failure to create the self-test thread does not go unnoticed, matching the ring-buffer self-test fix in commit 91542863abad ("ring-buffer: Fix crash passing ERR_PTR to kthread_stop()").

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-89749 since 09/11/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Additional levels of successful authentication are required for exploitation. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 6.12.109, 6.18.50, 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 12a499f741fc5be3731c8b0a0d909406575cc2eb/adadf4192f700bca82abfda9fa6d58c0bf37cc04/c40e0b4fa365969e67011529eabdfb66d1022256/649bc7df3e5d7be6f7996a95084037dbf3cad1e5 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.12.108
• 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
• 6.18.33
• 6.18.34
• 6.18.35
• 6.18.36
• 6.18.37
• 6.18.38
• 6.18.39
• 6.18.40
• 6.18.41
• 6.18.42
• 6.18.43
• 6.18.44
• 6.18.45
• 6.18.46
• 6.18.47
• 6.18.48
• 6.18.49
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3

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: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.2

VulDB Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Temp Score: 4.2
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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
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 6.12.109/6.18.50/7.2.4/7.3-rc1
Patch: 12a499f741fc5be3731c8b0a0d909406575cc2eb/adadf4192f700bca82abfda9fa6d58c0bf37cc04/c40e0b4fa365969e67011529eabdfb66d1022256/649bc7df3e5d7be6f7996a95084037dbf3cad1e5

Timelineinfo

09/11/2026 Advisory disclosed
09/11/2026 +0 days CVE reserved
09/11/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
09/11/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-89749 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-89749
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-402602

Entryinfo

Created: 09/11/2026 22:54
Changes: 09/11/2026 22:54 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.

Discussion

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