Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3 dm-pcache get_cache_segment n_segs null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score CVSS is a standardized scoring system to determine possibilities of attacks. The Temp Score considers temporal factors like disclosure, exploit and countermeasures. The unique Meta Score calculates the average score of different sources to provide a normalized scoring system.	Current Exploit Price (≈) Our analysts are monitoring exploit markets and are in contact with vulnerability brokers. The range indicates the observed or calculated exploit price to be seen on exploit markets. A good indicator to understand the monetary effort required for and the popularity of an attack.	CTI Interest Score Our Cyber Threat Intelligence team is monitoring different web sites, mailing lists, exploit markets and social media networks. The CTI Interest Score identifies the interest of attackers and the security community for this specific vulnerability in real-time. A high score indicates an elevated risk to be targeted for this vulnerability.
4.3	$0-$5k	0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3. This affects the function get_cache_segment of the component dm-pcache. Such manipulation of the argument n_segs leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-80956. The attack may be performed from remote. There is no available exploit. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.49/7.2.3. It has been rated as problematic. Affected by this issue is the function get_cache_segment of the component dm-pcache. The manipulation of the argument n_segs 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: dm-pcache: only hand out initialized cache segments get_cache_segment() scans the segment map up to cache->n_segs, the physical device segment count, but cache_segs_init() only initializes the first cache_info->n_segs segments. A crafted image with cache_info->n_segs smaller than the device count leaves the remaining pcache_cache_segment structs zeroed (segment.data == NULL), and the allocator can hand one to cache_kset_close(), which writes through the returned segment's data pointer with no NULL check. Bound the allocator's search to cache_info->n_segs so only initialized segments are ever returned. A conforming cache sets n_segs equal to the device segment count, so this rejects nothing legitimate.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-80956 since 08/26/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be launched remotely. Additional levels of successful authentication are necessary for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.50, 7.2.4 or 7.3-rc1 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 83e3116283ed2c6a6a1fa662862a4b4d7d2701a2/692037ae1a7cfacc2f0c22c6e034c1dfee0e553f/2df0fc042e299bae3c0f60ea5cd2af9285658e9f is able to eliminate this problem. 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

• 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

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
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CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.3

VulDB Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Temp Score: 4.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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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
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 6.18.50/7.2.4/7.3-rc1
Patch: 83e3116283ed2c6a6a1fa662862a4b4d7d2701a2/692037ae1a7cfacc2f0c22c6e034c1dfee0e553f/2df0fc042e299bae3c0f60ea5cd2af9285658e9f

Timelineinfo

08/26/2026 CVE reserved
09/11/2026 +16 days Advisory disclosed
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-2026-80956 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-80956
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-402668

Entryinfo

Created: 09/11/2026 23:30
Changes: 09/11/2026 23:30 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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