Linux Kernel up to 6.18.58/7.2.12 ring-buffer /cpuN/buffer_meta rbm_start null pointer dereference

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4.2	$0-$5k	0.00+

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.58/7.2.12. This affects the function rbm_start of the file /cpuN/buffer_meta of the component ring-buffer. This manipulation causes null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-99160. The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.58/7.2.12. Affected by this vulnerability is the function rbm_start of the file /cpuN/buffer_meta of the component ring-buffer. The manipulation 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: ring-buffer: Do not show buffer_meta for CPUs without a buffer The per_cpu/cpuN/buffer_meta files are created for every possible CPU, but buffer->buffers[cpu] is only allocated once that CPU comes online. Reading the file of a CPU that never came online dereferences a NULL cpu_buffer in rbm_start(). Fail the open with -ENODEV when the CPU has no buffer, as the other per CPU ring buffer interfaces do.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-99160 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation appears to be easy. An attack has to be approached locally. Additional levels of successful authentication are required for exploitation. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available.

Upgrading to version 6.18.59 or 7.2.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8512d0312cc0ea83ca4511b164c29a138bbb0c21/ae670c1a24fb5ffb167f26358cf47a5f0abbd670/3f23cae09a4677a3f7c163a68388512cb231ff22 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
• 6.18.53
• 6.18.54
• 6.18.55
• 6.18.56
• 6.18.57
• 6.18.58
• 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
• 7.2.10
• 7.2.11
• 7.2.12

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: 4.4
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.2

VulDB Base Score: 4.4
VulDB Temp Score: 4.2
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: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: No

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 6.18.59/7.2.13
Patch: 8512d0312cc0ea83ca4511b164c29a138bbb0c21/ae670c1a24fb5ffb167f26358cf47a5f0abbd670/3f23cae09a4677a3f7c163a68388512cb231ff22

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
10/28/2026 +33 days Advisory disclosed
10/28/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
10/28/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-99160 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-99160
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-427897

Entryinfo

Created: 10/28/2026 12:44
Changes: 10/28/2026 12:44 (60)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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

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