Local kernel panic via ARP hook mismatch
Published Apr 13, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel allows local users to trigger a kernel panic through crafted ARP nftables chains. The x_tables hook validator interprets NF_INET hook bits for ARP, so NFPROTO_UNSPEC matches pass validation despite incompatible ARP hook semantics and dereference a missing input device. Reachability requires local low-privileged access and an ARP chain using an incompatible extension; the bounded consequence is a host crash.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel allows local users to trigger a kernel panic through crafted ARP nftables chains. The x_tables hook validator interprets NF_INET hook bits for ARP, so NFPROTO_UNSPEC matches pass validation despite incompatible ARP hook semantics and dereference a missing input device. Reachability requires local low-privileged access and an ARP chain using an incompatible extension; the bounded consequence is a host crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-31424
- Published
- Apr 13, 2026
- Updated
- Apr 13, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 13, 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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.39
- Affected versionversion=9291747f118d6404e509747b85ff5f6dfec368d2 <1cd6313c8644bfebbd813a05da9daa21b09dd68c
- Affected versionversion=9291747f118d6404e509747b85ff5f6dfec368d2 <3d5d488f11776738deab9da336038add95d342d1
- Affected versionversion=9291747f118d6404e509747b85ff5f6dfec368d2 <3e79374b03bf9a2f282f0eb1d0ac3776f7e0f28a
- Affected versionversion=9291747f118d6404e509747b85ff5f6dfec368d2 <dc3e27dd7d76e21106b8f9bbdc31f5da74a89014
- Affected versionversion=9291747f118d6404e509747b85ff5f6dfec368d2 <e7e1b6bcb389c8708003d40613a59ff2496f6b1f
- Affected versionversion=9291747f118d6404e509747b85ff5f6dfec368d2 <f00ac65c90ea475719e08d629e2e26c8b4e6999b
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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