CVE-2026-64417

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: shrinker: fix NULL pointer dereference in debugfs shrinker_debugfs_add() creates both "count" and "scan" debugfs files unconditionally. That assumes every shrinker implements both count_objects() and scan_objects(), which is not guaranteed. For example, the xen-backend shrinker sets count_objects() but leaves scan_objects() NULL, so writing to its scan file calls through a NULL function pointer and panics the kernel: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 RIP: 0010:0x0 Code: Unable to access opcode bytes at 0xffffffffffffffd6. Call Trace: <TASK> shrinker_debugfs_scan_write+0x12e/0x270 full_proxy_write+0x5f/0x90 vfs_write+0xde/0x420 ? filp_flush+0x75/0x90 ? filp_close+0x1d/0x30 ? do_dup2+0xb8/0x120 ksys_write+0x68/0xf0 ? filp_flush+0x75/0x90 do_syscall_64+0xb3/0x5b0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e The count path has the same issue in principle if a shrinker omits count_objects(). To fix it, only create "count" and "scan" debugfs files when the corresponding callbacks are present.

Package Linux Kernel
Published 2026-07-25
Last modified 2026-07-25
Patch available
Yes

Affected versions

Linux kernel versions 6.0 and later are affected. Fixed in 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96, 6.18.39, 7.1.4, 7.2-rc3 and their respective stable series.

Affected from
≥ 6.0
Fixed in
✓ 6.1.178 6.1.x ✓ 6.6.145 6.6.x ✓ 6.12.96 6.12.x ✓ 6.18.39 6.18.x ✓ 7.1.4 7.1.x ✓ 7.2-rc3

Frequently asked questions

  • What is CVE-2026-64417?

    CVE-2026-64417 is a unscored severity Linux kernel vulnerability . It affects Linux kernel versions from 6.0 onward and has been patched in 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96 and others. CVE-2026-64417 has not been confirmed as actively exploited and is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

  • Is there a patch available for CVE-2026-64417?

    Yes. CVE-2026-64417 has been patched. Fixed versions include 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.96 and others. If you are running Linux kernel 6.0 or later up to the fix versions, apply the relevant patch for your kernel branch.

  • Is CVE-2026-64417 actively exploited?

    No. CVE-2026-64417 has not been confirmed as actively exploited. It is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.