Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc1 s390 ipl dump_reipl_run null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.0$0-$5k0.35+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1. It has been declared as problematic. This issue affects the function dump_reipl_run of the component s390 ipl. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-98399. Local access is required to approach this attack. No exploit exists. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.157/6.12.110/6.18.52/7.2.6/7.3-rc1. Affected by this issue is the function dump_reipl_run of the component s390 ipl. 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 confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/ipl: Fix NULL deref in dump_reipl without re-IPL parm block Unlike kdump, which passes the re-IPL parameter block through os_info, the stand-alone dump passes it through the IPL parm block address and checksum in lowcore. Some IPL types, like HMC FTP boot or QEMU direct kernel boot, might not provide an IPL parameter block. In this case reipl_type_init() selects IPL_TYPE_UNKNOWN and reipl_block_actual remains NULL. Nevertheless, dump_reipl_run() unconditionally dereferences it when preparing the lowcore fields. This may happen to work by chance when address zero contains readable lowcore data. A zero IPL parameter block address is then stored in lowcore, causing the stand-alone dumper to enter disabled wait after completing the dump. Explicitly store a zero IPL parameter block address and checksum when no re-IPL parameter block is available. This does not change the behavior: the stand-alone dumper completes the dump and halts, while valid re-IPL parameter blocks continue to be handled as before.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-98399 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are required for exploitation. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7 or 7.3-rc2 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 41647864e62b28388ecccc23a82f0e0a091f4ef2/aed56fa3108b7095e6a048e134981506c056a6cb/8d7988e8116c3d29d9e02ca9d37ee84577643f2d/280ff19853440d59e031cd8fe161e81305721262/37f61b71cbc0caefc01022a19ee56fc2510e2e6e is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

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Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.0

VulDB Base Score: 4.2
VulDB Temp Score: 4.0
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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💳💳💳💳💳💳
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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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 6.6.158/6.12.111/6.18.53/7.2.7/7.3-rc2
Patch: 41647864e62b28388ecccc23a82f0e0a091f4ef2/aed56fa3108b7095e6a048e134981506c056a6cb/8d7988e8116c3d29d9e02ca9d37ee84577643f2d/280ff19853440d59e031cd8fe161e81305721262/37f61b71cbc0caefc01022a19ee56fc2510e2e6e

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/14/2026 +19 days Advisory disclosed
10/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/14/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98399 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98399
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-419852

Entryinfo

Created: 10/14/2026 16:00
Changes: 10/14/2026 16:00 (59)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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