CVE-2026-43086

Kernel panic via NULL scheduler cleanup pointer

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel 6.2 and later affected branches allows local users to trigger a kernel panic through IPVS service setup. After ip_vs_bind_scheduler() succeeds, ip_vs_add_service() clears its local sched pointer; if ip_vs_start_estimator() then fails, cleanup passes NULL to ip_vs_unbind_scheduler(), which dereferences sched->done_service. Local access able to exercise IPVS service configuration is required, and successful triggering crashes the kernel and interrupts the host.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.12%
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 6.2 and later affected branches allows local users to trigger a kernel panic through IPVS service setup. After ip_vs_bind_scheduler() succeeds, ip_vs_add_service() clears its local sched pointer; if ip_vs_start_estimator() then fails, cleanup passes NULL to ip_vs_unbind_scheduler(), which dereferences sched->done_service. Local access able to exercise IPVS service configuration is required, and successful triggering crashes the kernel and interrupts the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43086
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.2
  2. Affected versionversion=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <4039959315008888dd53c37674d33351817a5166
  3. Affected versionversion=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <730663352c9178f33fcf5929f4a37c1f1ca5a693
  4. Affected versionversion=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <9a91797e61d286805ae10a92cc48959c30800556
  5. Affected versionversion=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <a32dabacee111cea083ddd57a03635672e1bff29
  6. Affected versionversion=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <c2ddbe577e2ebf63f2d8fb15cdc7503af70f3e94

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.2; version=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <4039959315008888dd53c37674d33351817a5166; version=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <730663352c9178f33fcf5929f4a37c1f1ca5a693; version=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <9a91797e61d286805ae10a92cc48959c30800556; version=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <a32dabacee111cea083ddd57a03635672e1bff29; version=705dd34440812735ece298eb5bc153fde9544d42 <c2ddbe577e2ebf63f2d8fb15cdc7503af70f3e94

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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