Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5 f_fs f_fs.c ffs_epfile_ioctl null pointer dereference

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5.3	$0-$5k	0.44-

Summaryinfo

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. The impacted element is the function ffs_epfile_ioctl of the file f_fs.c of the component f_fs. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-98764. An attack has to be approached locally. There is no exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5 and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is the function ffs_epfile_ioctl of the file f_fs.c of the component f_fs. 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: usb: gadget: f_fs: Fix NULL pointer dereference in FUNCTIONFS_ENDPOINT_DESC When user space sets up FunctionFS with only full-speed descriptors (e.g., flags = FUNCTIONFS_HAS_FS_DESC) and the gadget operates at a higher speed (such as USB_SPEED_HIGH or USB_SPEED_SUPER), config_ep_by_speed() detects that the function lacks descriptors for the current speed, logs a warning, and falls back to full-speed descriptors. The endpoint is then successfully enabled via usb_ep_enable(), and epfile->ep becomes valid. However, when user space subsequently issues the FUNCTIONFS_ENDPOINT_DESC ioctl to query the endpoint descriptor, ffs_epfile_ioctl() selects the descriptor index solely based on gadget->speed: switch (epfile->ffs->gadget->speed) { case USB_SPEED_SUPER: case USB_SPEED_SUPER_PLUS: desc_idx = 2; break; case USB_SPEED_HIGH: desc_idx = 1; break; default: desc_idx = 0; } desc = epfile->ep->descs[desc_idx]; memcpy(&desc1, desc, desc->bLength); Because user space only supplied full-speed descriptors, epfile->ep->descs[1] is NULL. Dereferencing desc->bLength triggers an immediate kernel NULL pointer dereference panic. Fix this by falling back through lower speed descriptors if the current speed descriptor was not supplied, matching the fallback logic in config_ep_by_speed() and historical f_fs behavior. If still missing, fall back to epfile->ep->ep->desc (the active descriptor), and return -EINVAL safely if no valid descriptor is found. In addition, mark desc as const to match struct usb_ep::desc and avoid discarding qualifiers.

The advisory is available at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-98764 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. Local access is required to approach this attack. Technical details are known, but there is no available exploit.

Upgrading to version 6.12.113, 6.18.56, 7.2.10 or 7.3-rc6 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 9d8761b3c133f6c6a6d3486839dac60e2cf4bfe3/7811d8e26c77f8eea79e22d0d14c67ec0658b348/35ab269602e1f7c4c0fe6ea3477264bea77eced3/9cd072788c76595529eb38f42bf94d23852f8534 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

• 6.12.112
• 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
• 6.18.53
• 6.18.54
• 6.18.55
• 7.2.0
• 7.2.1
• 7.2.2
• 7.2.3
• 7.2.4
• 7.2.5
• 7.2.6
• 7.2.7
• 7.2.8
• 7.2.9
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3
• 7.3-rc4
• 7.3-rc5

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: 5.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 5.3

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AV	AC	Au	C	I	A
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💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
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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 6.12.113/6.18.56/7.2.10/7.3-rc6
Patch: 9d8761b3c133f6c6a6d3486839dac60e2cf4bfe3/7811d8e26c77f8eea79e22d0d14c67ec0658b348/35ab269602e1f7c4c0fe6ea3477264bea77eced3/9cd072788c76595529eb38f42bf94d23852f8534

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-2026-98764 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98764
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-421934

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 19:22
Changes: 10/18/2026 19:22 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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