CVE-2025-71120Network attack vector

Remote kernel crash via zero-length GSS token

Published Jan 14, 2026 · Updated Jan 14, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel allows remote attackers to crash network-facing SUNRPC hosts via a zero-length GSS token. In gss_read_proxy_verf, a zero-length token creates no pages, but the initial copy still passes the null first-page pointer to page_address before copying zero bytes. Exploitation requires an exposed kernel SUNRPC service using the gss-proxy backend; a crafted pre-authentication request can trigger a kernel oops or panic without disclosing or modifying data.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.48%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel allows remote attackers to crash network-facing SUNRPC hosts via a zero-length GSS token. In gss_read_proxy_verf, a zero-length token creates no pages, but the initial copy still passes the null first-page pointer to page_address before copying zero bytes. Exploitation requires an exposed kernel SUNRPC service using the gss-proxy backend; a crafted pre-authentication request can trigger a kernel oops or panic without disclosing or modifying data.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-71120
Published
Jan 14, 2026
Updated
Jan 14, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 14, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=5.5
  2. Affected versionversion=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <1c8bb965e9b0559ff0f5690615a527c30f651dd8
  3. Affected versionversion=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <7452d53f293379e2c38cfa8ad0694aa46fc4788b
  4. Affected versionversion=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <a2c6f25ab98b423f99ccd94874d655b8bcb01a19
  5. Affected versionversion=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <d4b69a6186b215d2dc1ebcab965ed88e8d41768d
  6. Affected versionversion=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <f9e53f69ac3bc4ef568b08d3542edac02e83fefd
  7. Affected versionversion=66ed7b413d31c6ff23901ac4443b1cc1af2f6113
  8. Affected versionversion=7be8c165dc81564705e8e0b72d398ef708f67eaa

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.5; version=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <1c8bb965e9b0559ff0f5690615a527c30f651dd8; version=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <7452d53f293379e2c38cfa8ad0694aa46fc4788b; version=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <a2c6f25ab98b423f99ccd94874d655b8bcb01a19; version=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <d4b69a6186b215d2dc1ebcab965ed88e8d41768d; version=5866efa8cbfbadf3905072798e96652faf02dbe8 <f9e53f69ac3bc4ef568b08d3542edac02e83fefd; version=66ed7b413d31c6ff23901ac4443b1cc1af2f6113; version=7be8c165dc81564705e8e0b72d398ef708f67eaa

Published CVSS scores

6.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5Oracle LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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