NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-52938
Published: June 25, 2026
Vulnerability identifier: #VU135435
CSH Severity: Low
CVSS v4: 6.8 [CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2026-52938
CWE-ID: CWE-476
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability:
No public exploit available
Vulnerability details
The vulnerability allows a local user to cause a denial of service.
The vulnerability exists due to a NULL pointer dereference in bpf_sk_storage_clone() and bpf_sk_storage_diag_put_all() when processing socket local storage entries during concurrent access. A local user can trigger concurrent operations that leave smap as NULL while the storage element remains visible to RCU readers to cause a denial of service.
The issue arises in the BPF socket storage handling paths under a race condition involving RCU readers.
Affected software
Linux kernel
Ubuntu
linux (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
Ubuntu
linux (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
How to mitigate CVE-2026-52938
Install security update from vendor's repository.
Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3
linux (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-31.31, 7.0.0-31.31.1, 7.0.0-31.31~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1006.7, 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1012.12, 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1
linux-gcp-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1013.13
linux (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-31.31, 7.0.0-31.31.1, 7.0.0-31.31~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1006.7, 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1012.12, 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1
linux-gcp-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1013.13