What is CVE-2026-23020?

CVE-2026-23020 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476), affecting Linux kernel versions from 4.16.12 onward and patched in 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.161 and others. CVE-2026-23020 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-23020?

CVE-2026-23020 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity. The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.

Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-23020?

Yes, CVE-2026-23020 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.161 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 4.16.12 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

Is CVE-2026-23020 actively exploited?

CVE-2026-23020 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

What is NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476)?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. See MITRE CWE for full details: https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/476.html

CVE-2026-23020

Medium

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: 3com: 3c59x: fix possible null dereference in vortex_probe1() pdev can be null and free_ring: can be called in 1297 with a null pdev.

Package Linux Kernel

Published 2026-01-31

Last modified 2026-03-25

CVSS version 3.1

Patch available

Yes

CVSS 3.1 score

5.5

out of 10

Medium

Attack Vector

Local

Attack Complexity

Low

Privileges Required

Low

User Interaction

None

Scope

Unchanged

Confidentiality

Low

Integrity

None

Availability

High

Vector string

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Weakness type

CWE-476

CVE-2026-23020 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability

What is NULL Pointer Dereference?

The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL, typically causing a crash. Learn more on MITRE CWE

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 4.16.12, 4.17 and later are affected. Fixed in 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.161, 6.6.121, 6.12.66, 6.18.6, 6.19 and their respective stable series.

Affected from

≥ 4.16.12 ≥ 4.17

Fixed in

✓ 5.10.248 5.10.x ✓ 5.15.198 5.15.x ✓ 6.1.161 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.121 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.66 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.6 6.18.x ✓ 6.19

References

7 total

Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/053ac9e37eee435e999277c0f1ef890dad6064bf

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/28b2a805609699be7b90020ae7dccfb234be1ceb

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f05f7737e16d9a40038cc1c38a96a3f7964898b

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/606872c8e8bf96066730f6a2317502c5633c37f1

Patch
Kernel Git
https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6cff14b831dbdb32675b4c7904dcc3eeeaf47e9d

Patch

Showing 5 of 7 references View all on NVD

Details

CVE ID CVE-2026-23020

Severity Medium

CVSS score 5.5 / 10

CVSS version 3.1

Published 2026-01-31

Modified 2026-03-25

KEV No

Patch

Yes

Package linux

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2026-23020?

CVE-2026-23020 is a Medium severity Linux kernel vulnerability with a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10 , classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference flaw (CWE-476) . It affects Linux kernel versions from 4.16.12 onward and has been patched in 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.161 and others. CVE-2026-23020 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-23020?

CVE-2026-23020 has a CVSS score of 5.5 out of 10, rated Medium severity (CVSS 3.1). The vector string is CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H.
Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-23020?

Yes. CVE-2026-23020 has been patched. Fixed versions include 5.10.248, 5.15.198, 6.1.161 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 4.16.12 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
Is CVE-2026-23020 actively exploited?

No. CVE-2026-23020 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.