Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5 pfcp pfcp_newlink sk null pointer dereference

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.2$0-$5k1.37-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5. It has been rated as critical. This affects the function pfcp_newlink of the component pfcp. Performing a manipulation of the argument sk results in null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is cataloged as CVE-2026-98849. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. There is no exploit available. Upgrading the affected component is advised.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5. This affects the function pfcp_newlink of the component pfcp. The manipulation of the argument sk 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: pfcp: fix socket lifetime on netdevice registration failure pfcp_newlink() creates the UDP socket before register_netdevice(). If registration fails after pfcp_dev_init() succeeds, the core calls pfcp_dev_uninit(), which releases the socket and clears pfcp->sk. The newlink error path then releases it again, causing a NULL pointer dereference. This was observed with failslab fault injection: FAULT_INJECTION: forcing a failure. kobject: kobject_add_internal failed for pfcp0 (error: -12 parent: net) BUG: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in udp_tunnel_sock_release+0x1c/0x50 Read of size 8 at addr 0000000000000120 by task ip/1037 Call trace: show_stack+0x18/0x24 (C) dump_stack_lvl+0x78/0x90 print_report+0x468/0x5cc kasan_report+0xa4/0xf0 __asan_load8+0x7c/0xd0 udp_tunnel_sock_release+0x1c/0x50 pfcp_newlink+0x128/0x184 rtnl_newlink+0x848/0xe44 rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x468/0x514 netlink_rcv_skb+0xc0/0x1f0 rtnetlink_rcv+0x18/0x24 netlink_unicast+0x4b8/0x558 netlink_sendmsg+0x2b8/0x584 ... Return from pfcp_del_sock() if pfcp->sk is NULL.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2026-98849 since 09/25/2026. The exploitability is told to be easy. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 or 7.3-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch dcb8f6a79c3360a440c399d85df465a6e59351f1/4b8ce1686dea1a10805a0807bf492409b0300ee1/2cee3603ec1d9b5ec7f2121ea3efe9488e906f46/0f17d2e3dd9cda3ee6d94033d5e5489af168920d is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.2

VulDB Base Score: 6.5
VulDB Temp Score: 6.2
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 6.12.113/6.18.56/7.2.10/7.3-rc6
Patch: dcb8f6a79c3360a440c399d85df465a6e59351f1/4b8ce1686dea1a10805a0807bf492409b0300ee1/2cee3603ec1d9b5ec7f2121ea3efe9488e906f46/0f17d2e3dd9cda3ee6d94033d5e5489af168920d

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/18/2026 +23 days Advisory disclosed
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/18/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-98849 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98849
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-421869

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 18:39
Changes: 10/18/2026 18:39 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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