Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52 AMD Display Driver null pointer dereference

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52. This affects an unknown function of the component AMD Display Driver. Performing a manipulation results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability was named CVE-2026-97431. The attack may be initiated remotely. There is no available exploit. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.52. This affects some unknown functionality of the component AMD Display Driver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. CWE is classifying the issue as 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. This is going to have an impact on availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: drm/amd/display: Avoid DPMS-on for phantom stream [Why & How] Calling dc_update_planes_and_stream separately for stream and its phantom stream causes a NULL pointer dereference, since the phantom is destroyed on the first call. Skip the call for phantom streams.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-97431 since 09/24/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Neither technical details nor an exploit are publicly available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 09/24/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.53 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch f2463fc246d3c39be1371389c52b29418ad673d0/10f5f9c0ef32d08b228bfee3684b62f36f395852 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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
• 6.18.50
• 6.18.51
• 6.18.52

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

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Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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