CVE-2026-23148
MediumIn the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: nvmet: fix race in nvmet_bio_done() leading to NULL pointer dereference There is a race condition in nvmet_bio_done() that can cause a NULL pointer dereference in blk_cgroup_bio_start(): 1. nvmet_bio_done() is called when a bio completes 2. nvmet_req_complete() is called, which invokes req->ops->queue_response(req) 3. The queue_response callback can re-queue and re-submit the same request 4. The re-submission reuses the same inline_bio from nvmet_req 5. Meanwhile, nvmet_req_bio_put() (called after nvmet_req_complete) invokes bio_uninit() for inline_bio, which sets bio->bi_blkg to NULL 6. The re-submitted bio enters submit_bio_noacct_nocheck() 7. blk_cgroup_bio_start() dereferences bio->bi_blkg, causing a crash: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000028 #PF: supervisor read access in kernel mode RIP: 0010:blk_cgroup_bio_start+0x10/0xd0 Call Trace: submit_bio_noacct_nocheck+0x44/0x250 nvmet_bdev_execute_rw+0x254/0x370 [nvmet] process_one_work+0x193/0x3c0 worker_thread+0x281/0x3a0 Fix this by reordering nvmet_bio_done() to call nvmet_req_bio_put() BEFORE nvmet_req_complete(). This ensures the bio is cleaned up before the request can be re-submitted, preventing the race condition.
CVSS 3.1 score
5.5
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Weakness type
CWE-476CVE-2026-23148 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
6.12.37,
6.15.6,
6.16
and later are affected. Fixed in
6.12.69,
6.18.9,
6.19
and their respective stable series.
References
The following references provide additional information about CVE-2026-23148 including vendor advisories, patch commits, exploit details, and third-party analysis. Links are sourced from the NIST NVD database.
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/0fcee2cfc4b2e16e62ff8e0cc2cd8dd24efad65e
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/68207ceefd71cc74ce4e983fa9bd10c3122e349b
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PatchKernel patch commithttps://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee10b06980acca1d46e0fa36d6fb4a9578eab6e4
Frequently asked questions
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What is CVE-2026-23148?
CVE-2026-23148 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 6.12.37 onward and has been patched in 6.12.69, 6.18.9 and 6.19. CVE-2026-23148 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
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What is the CVSS score for CVE-2026-23148?
CVE-2026-23148 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-2026-23148?
Yes — CVE-2026-23148 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.12.69, 6.18.9 and 6.19. If you are running Linux kernel 6.12.37 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.
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Is CVE-2026-23148 actively exploited?
No — CVE-2026-23148 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.
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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. View CWE-476 on MITRE CWE →