Linux Kernel up to 7.3-rc4 PCI of_pci_prop_bus_range/of_pci_prop_intr_map subordinate 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.
7.2	$0-$5k	1.34-

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.157/6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. This affects the function of_pci_prop_bus_range/of_pci_prop_intr_map of the component PCI. This manipulation of the argument subordinate causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is registered as CVE-2026-98504. Remote exploitation of the attack is possible. No exploit is available. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as critical was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.6.157/6.12.111/6.18.54/7.2.8/7.3-rc4. Affected by this vulnerability is the function of_pci_prop_bus_range/of_pci_prop_intr_map of the component PCI. The manipulation of the argument subordinate with an unknown input leads to a null pointer dereference vulnerability. The CWE definition for the vulnerability is 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. As an impact it is known to affect availability. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PCI: of_property: Omit bus properties without a subordinate bus A bridge (a device with a Type 1 header) may not have a secondary bus allocated (pdev->subordinate), e.g., if there are no available bus numbers or the bridge secondary/subordinate bus numbers are not writable. The dynamic OF helpers of_pci_prop_bus_range() and of_pci_prop_intr_map() dereference pdev->subordinate without checking it. When CONFIG_PCI_DYNAMIC_OF_NODES is enabled, this can cause a NULL pointer dereference and early boot hang. Generate 'bus-range' and 'interrupt-map' properties only when a subordinate bus exists. Keep the node and its remaining properties for bridges without one. The problem was latent since 407d1a51921e ("PCI: Create device tree node for bridge"), but wasn't reachable until 1f340724419e ("PCI: of: Create device tree PCI host bridge node"), which appeared in v6.15. Before 1f340724419e, of_pci_make_dev_node() returned early because the parent OF node was missing. [bhelgaas: move pdev->subordinate test to callees, commit log]

It is possible to read the advisory at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-98504 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. The attack can be launched remotely. The exploitation doesn't need any form of authentication. Technical details of the vulnerability are known, but there is no available exploit. The pricing for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 10/18/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.6.158, 6.12.112, 6.18.55, 7.2.9 or 7.3-rc5 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch ccd32fa3489cbe86a0b281da4447b4c7eadb3518/a6d97d10e49ae49026ae13af6c41634fce470a37/879c911f77b8a7862aa16079b04efc3fdc5d32ec/aee774588abd78f75952fd34c3fa461bc46b62c2/8805840aad73df7146778be243a196d48b4f6430 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.6.157
• 6.12.111
• 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
• 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
• 7.3-rc1
• 7.3-rc2
• 7.3-rc3
• 7.3-rc4

License

• open-source

Website

• Vendor: https://www.kernel.org/

CPE 2.3info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CPE 2.2info

• 🔒
• 🔒
• 🔒

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.2

VulDB Base Score: 7.5
VulDB Temp Score: 7.2
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
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 6.6.158/6.12.112/6.18.55/7.2.9/7.3-rc5
Patch: ccd32fa3489cbe86a0b281da4447b4c7eadb3518/a6d97d10e49ae49026ae13af6c41634fce470a37/879c911f77b8a7862aa16079b04efc3fdc5d32ec/aee774588abd78f75952fd34c3fa461bc46b62c2/8805840aad73df7146778be243a196d48b4f6430

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-2026-98504 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-98504
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-422155

Entryinfo

Created: 10/18/2026 20:44
Changes: 10/18/2026 20:44 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.

Discussion

Do you know our Splunk app?

Download it now for free!