Kernel crash via null endpoint dereference
Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel HID prodikeys allows local users to crash the kernel with a fake USB report descriptor. The driver accepts a descriptor that bypasses input_mapping(), leaves pm->input_ep82 unset, and later dereferences that null endpoint. Exploitation requires presenting a device that impersonates supported hardware; the consequence is local availability loss without reported data exposure or modification.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux Kernel HID prodikeys allows local users to crash the kernel with a fake USB report descriptor. The driver accepts a descriptor that bypasses input_mapping(), leaves pm->input_ep82 unset, and later dereferences that null endpoint. Exploitation requires presenting a device that impersonates supported hardware; the consequence is local availability loss without reported data exposure or modification.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-43251
- Published
- May 6, 2026
- Updated
- May 6, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-476, T1200
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 6, 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.
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <3f1b21cc67a15d7d081378a9b8747dd000a017b8
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <cee8337e1bad168136aecfe6416ecd7d3aa7529a
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d08f35f843881ec504d7537a9bb728a073db3366
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <d5512ce892f774d37c53082adadfcad04f21b50e
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <e7ac1cd823cd2e9fcbd5cb0b261d6d35dbb79341
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <edccbf7d6dc05d692bde3a89de5a4001f72a0fa4
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ee572578f09f0e743e9383393a75c3a7a0f9b4c2
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <f580c79683356632f12f2c2029f2fe936d953aa1
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Book a demo