Linux Kernel up to 7.2.12 Tracing tracer_init_tracefs_work_func null pointer dereference

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5.3	$0-$5k	0.69

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability labeled as critical has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.190/6.6.160/6.12.114/6.18.58/7.2.12. Affected by this issue is the function tracer_init_tracefs_work_func of the component Tracing. Such manipulation leads to null pointer dereference. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2026-99247. An attack has to be approached locally. There is no exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Linux Kernel up to 6.1.190/6.6.160/6.12.114/6.18.58/7.2.12. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is the function tracer_init_tracefs_work_func of the component Tracing. 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: tracing: Do not initialize tracefs work if tracing is disabled If trace buffer allocation fails during early boot (e.g. in early_trace_init() -> allocate_trace_buffers()), tracing_disabled is left set to 1 and the global trace array events list remains uninitialized. Later during boot, tracer_init_tracefs() (invoked via fs_initcall) queues tracerfs_init_work asynchronously without checking if tracing was disabled. When tracer_init_tracefs_work_func() runs, it calls event_trace_init() and init_tracer_tracefs(&global_trace, NULL) unconditionally. This leads to __find_event_file() dereferencing an uninitialized tr->events list, causing an early boot NULL pointer dereference Oops: BUG: Kernel NULL pointer dereference on read at 0x00000010 Faulting instruction address: 0xc000000000485be0 Oops: Kernel access of bad area, sig: 7 [#1] ... NIP [c000000000485be0] __find_event_file+0x70/0x3c0 LR [c000000000448874] init_tracer_tracefs+0x274/0xc80 Call Trace: init_tracer_tracefs+0x274/0xc80 tracer_init_tracefs_work_func+0x50/0x320 process_one_work+0x1e8/0x5c0 worker_thread+0x1dc/0x3d0 kthread+0x194/0x1b0 start_kernel_thread+0x14/0x18 Check tracing_disabled at the beginning of tracer_init_tracefs_work_func() and return immediately if tracing is disabled or failed to initialize, preventing the crash.

The advisory is shared for download at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-99247 since 09/25/2026. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack needs to be approached locally. There are known technical details, but no exploit is available.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 375608 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-99247), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.1.191, 6.6.161, 6.12.115, 6.18.59 or 7.2.13 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch e8665e884e076d894f3eed8b9ea28e37a6448604/e8cfcd7e60eaa3b0dea4d71c64499604e7081736/afd38b10b1c6a5c5d6952b15b990596dab9684e6/813e18881c6472eb229a63180ff42c808e3e949b/7539c61f522ff693d9565a0411386c2236e776cd/b3b974008388ab59e44d764ba7a63c988fec2524 is able to eliminate this problem. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at Tenable (375608). Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Operating System

Vendor

• Linux

Name

• Kernel

Version

• 6.1.190
• 6.6.160
• 6.12.114
• 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

• 🔒
• 🔒
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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
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳
💳	💳	💳	💳	💳	💳

Vector	Complexity	Authentication	Confidentiality	Integrity	Availability
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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: 🔒

0-Day	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock
Today	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock	Unlock

Nessus ID: 375608
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2026-99247

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.1.191/6.6.161/6.12.115/6.18.59/7.2.13
Patch: e8665e884e076d894f3eed8b9ea28e37a6448604/e8cfcd7e60eaa3b0dea4d71c64499604e7081736/afd38b10b1c6a5c5d6952b15b990596dab9684e6/813e18881c6472eb229a63180ff42c808e3e949b/7539c61f522ff693d9565a0411386c2236e776cd/b3b974008388ab59e44d764ba7a63c988fec2524

Timelineinfo

09/25/2026 CVE reserved
11/03/2026 +39 days Advisory disclosed
11/03/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
11/04/2026 +1 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CNA: Linux
CVE: CVE-2026-99247 (🔒)

GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-99247
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-430244

Entryinfo

Created: 11/03/2026 12:45
Updated: 11/04/2026 03:36
Changes: 11/03/2026 12:45 (59), 11/04/2026 03:36 (2)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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