NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-72502

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Main Vulnerability Database Vulnerabilities #VU142940

NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel - CVE-2026-72502

Published: August 15, 2026


Vulnerability identifier: #VU142940
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-2026-72502
CWE-ID: CWE-476
Exploitation vector: Local access
Exploit availability: No public exploit available

Vulnerability details

The vulnerability allows a local attacker to cause a denial of service.

The vulnerability exists due to a null pointer dereference in skb_segment() when processing a local TCP packet with gso_size set to 0xFFFF. A local attacker can trigger a large MTU condition that causes the MSS clamp to reach 65535 to cause a denial of service.

The issue occurs because the 0xFFFF MSS value collides with the GSO_BY_FRAGS magic value, and local TCP packets do not use frag_list.


Affected software

Linux kernel
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 LTSS Extended
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12
SUSE Linux Enterprise Real Time 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise High Availability Extension 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15
SUSE Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15
SUSE Linux Micro
SUSE Linux Micro Extras
SUSE Linux Enterprise Live Patching
SUSE Real Time Module
Development Tools Module
Basesystem Module
Public Cloud Module
Legacy Module
Ubuntu
linux-nvidia-tegra (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-tegra-igx (Ubuntu package)
linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux (Ubuntu package)
linux-lowlatency (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws (Ubuntu package)
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package)
linux-oracle (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-fde (Ubuntu package)
linux-realtime (Ubuntu package)
linux-fips (Ubuntu package)
linux-gkeop (Ubuntu package)
linux-gke (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-fips (Ubuntu package)
linux-aws-fips (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-fips (Ubuntu package)
kgraft-patch-4_12_14-122_328-default
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_20-debugsource
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_75-rt
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_75-rt-debuginfo
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_21-debugsource
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default-debuginfo
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default
gfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo
ocfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo
dlm-kmp-default
ocfs2-kmp-default
kernel-default-base-debuginfo
dlm-kmp-default-debuginfo
cluster-md-kmp-default-debuginfo
kernel-syms
kernel-default-kgraft
kernel-default-debuginfo
kernel-default-kgraft-devel
kernel-default-debugsource
kernel-default
gfs2-kmp-default
cluster-md-kmp-default
kernel-default-devel
kernel-default-base
kernel-default-devel-debuginfo
kernel-source
kernel-devel
kernel-macros
kernel-default-man
kernel-default-livepatch
kernel-source-rt
kernel-devel-rt
kernel-rt
kernel-rt-debuginfo
kernel-rt-debugsource
kernel-rt-livepatch
kernel-kvmsmall
kernel-64kb
kernel-64kb-debugsource
kernel-64kb-devel
kernel-obs-build
kernel-obs-build-debugsource
kernel-kvmsmall-debuginfo
kernel-kvmsmall-debugsource
ocfs2-kmp-rt
gfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo
dlm-kmp-rt
kernel-rt-devel
cluster-md-kmp-rt
kernel-rt-devel-debuginfo
kernel-syms-rt
ocfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo
gfs2-kmp-rt
dlm-kmp-rt-debuginfo
cluster-md-kmp-rt-debuginfo
kernel-64kb-debuginfo
kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfo
kernel-zfcpdump-debugsource
kernel-zfcpdump
kernel-default-extra-debuginfo
kernel-azure-devel-debuginfo
kernel-azure-debuginfo
kernel-azure-debugsource
kernel-azure-devel
kernel-azure
kernel-default-extra
kernel-64kb-devel-debuginfo
kernel-default-livepatch-devel
reiserfs-kmp-default-debuginfo
reiserfs-kmp-default
kernel-docs
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package)
linux-oracle-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-5.15 (Ubuntu package)
linux-gcp-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package)
linux-azure-7.0 (Ubuntu package)

How to mitigate CVE-2026-72502

Install security update from vendor's repository.

Linux kernel - update to 7.0 rc3
linux-nvidia-tegra (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1070.72, 6.8.0-1036.39+1
linux-nvidia-tegra-igx (Ubuntu package) - update to 5.15.0-1059.59
linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - update to 5.15.0-1070.72~20.04.1
linux (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1, 5.15.0-195.205, 5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1, 5.15.0-198.208+fips1, 5.15.0-1080.84, 5.15.0-1100.108, 5.15.0-1109.111, 5.15.0-1109.114, 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1111.115, 5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1112.118, 5.15.0-1113.119, 5.15.0-1114.120, 5.15.0-1116.125~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.124, 5.15.0-1117.124+fips1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132, 5.15.0-1123.132+fips1, 5.15.0.195.160, 5.15.0.195.205~20.04.1, 5.15.0.198.114, 5.15.0.198.171, 5.15.0.198.208~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1080.83~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1100.99, 5.15.0.1109.105, 5.15.0.1109.113, 5.15.0.1111.108, 5.15.0.1111.115~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1112.111, 5.15.0.1112.118~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1113.112, 5.15.0.1114.110, 5.15.0.1116.120, 5.15.0.1117.113, 5.15.0.1117.120, 5.15.0.1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1122.131~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1123.107, 5.15.0.1123.121, 5.15.0.1123.132~20.04.1, 6.8.0-147.147, 7.0.0-38.38, 7.0.0-38.38.1, 7.0.0-1008.9, 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1014.14, 7.0.0-1015.15
linux-lowlatency (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-147.147.1
linux-azure (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 6.8.0-1071.79, 7.0.0-1016.16, 7.0.0-1017.17
linux-gcp (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1118.128, 5.15.0-1118.128+fips1, 5.15.0.1118.107, 5.15.0.1118.115, 6.8.0-1071.79
linux-aws (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1067.70
linux-ibm (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1067.68
linux-oracle (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1064.67
linux-azure-fde (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1122.131, 5.15.0.1122.131, 6.8.0-1069.76
linux-realtime (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.1-1062.63
linux-fips (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-147.147+fips1
linux-gkeop (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1052.56
linux-gke (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1066.74
linux-azure-fips (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
linux-aws-fips (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
linux-gcp-fips (Ubuntu package) - update to 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
kgraft-patch-4_12_14-122_328-default - update to 1-8.5.1
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7-RT_Update_20-debugsource - update to 1-150700.1.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_75-rt - update to 1-150700.1.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_7_75-rt-debuginfo - update to 1-150700.1.3.1
kernel-livepatch-SLE15-SP7_Update_21-debugsource - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default-debuginfo - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
kernel-livepatch-6_4_0-150700_53_81-default - update to 1-150700.15.3.1
gfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
ocfs2-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
dlm-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
ocfs2-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-base-debuginfo - update to 4.12.14-122.328.1
dlm-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
cluster-md-kmp-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-syms - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-kgraft - update to 4.12.14-122.328.1
kernel-default-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-kgraft-devel - update to 4.12.14-122.328.1
kernel-default-debugsource - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
gfs2-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
cluster-md-kmp-default - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-devel - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-base - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1.21.35, 6.4.0-52.1.21.36, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1.150700.17.45.1
kernel-default-devel-debuginfo - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-source - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-devel - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-macros - addressed in versions 4.12.14-122.328.1, 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-man - update to 4.12.14-122.328.1
kernel-default-livepatch - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-source-rt - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-devel-rt - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-rt - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-rt-debuginfo - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-rt-debugsource - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-rt-livepatch - update to 6.4.0-52.1
kernel-kvmsmall - update to 6.4.0-52.1
kernel-64kb - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-debugsource - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-devel - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-obs-build - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-obs-build-debugsource - addressed in versions 6.4.0-52.1, 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-kvmsmall-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-52.1
kernel-kvmsmall-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-52.1
ocfs2-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
gfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
dlm-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-rt-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
cluster-md-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-rt-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-syms-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
ocfs2-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
gfs2-kmp-rt - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
dlm-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
cluster-md-kmp-rt-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.7.75.1
kernel-64kb-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-zfcpdump-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-zfcpdump-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-zfcpdump - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-extra-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-debugsource - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-azure - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-extra - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-64kb-devel-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-default-livepatch-devel - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
reiserfs-kmp-default-debuginfo - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
reiserfs-kmp-default - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
kernel-docs - update to 6.4.0-150700.53.81.1
linux-nvidia (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1112.113, 5.15.0.1112.112
linux-oracle-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1114.120~20.04.1
linux-gcp-5.15 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1, 5.15.0.1118.128~20.04.1
linux-gcp-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4, 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
linux-oem-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - update to 7.0.0-1015.15
linux-azure-7.0 (Ubuntu package) - addressed in versions 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1

External References

Related Security Bulletins