Local system crash via delayed configfs registration
Published Feb 18, 2026 · Updated Feb 18, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel 5.12 and later allows local users to crash the system through PCI endpoint configfs operations. The pci_epf_cfs_work delayed worker calls configfs_register_group after its driver directory has been removed, dereferencing a NULL parent. Access to PCI endpoint function configuration through configfs is required; rapid directory creation and removal triggers the race and crashes the host.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel 5.12 and later allows local users to crash the system through PCI endpoint configfs operations. The pci_epf_cfs_work delayed worker calls configfs_register_group after its driver directory has been removed, dereferencing a NULL parent. Access to PCI endpoint function configuration through configfs is required; rapid directory creation and removal triggers the race and crashes the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2025-71233
- Published
- Feb 18, 2026
- Updated
- Feb 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Feb 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <24a253c3aa6d9a2cde46158ce9782e023bfbf32d
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <73cee890adafa2c219bb865356e08e7f82423fe5
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d9af3cf58bb4c8d6dea4166011c780756b1138b5
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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