CVE-2026-53032

Kernel crash via scalar-register NULL dereference

Published Jun 24, 2026 · Updated Jun 24, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in the BPF verifier in Linux Kernel allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted BPF program. map_kptr_match_type calls btf_is_kernel on reg->btf before rejecting a scalar register, whose BTF pointer is NULL, when it is stored in a kptr slot. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and the ability to submit the crafted program to the BPF verifier; the resulting dereference can crash the running kernel without a reported data-read or data-write path.

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 the BPF verifier in Linux Kernel allows local users to crash the kernel through a crafted BPF program. map_kptr_match_type calls btf_is_kernel on reg->btf before rejecting a scalar register, whose BTF pointer is NULL, when it is stored in a kptr slot. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and the ability to submit the crafted program to the BPF verifier; the resulting dereference can crash the running kernel without a reported data-read or data-write path.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53032
Published
Jun 24, 2026
Updated
Jun 24, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 24, 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=4782968e0d631b0d8944dcfd4bf8fb49be087101
  2. Affected versionversion=6.4.16 <6.5
  3. Affected versionversion=6.5.3 <6.6
  4. Affected versionversion=6.6
  5. Affected versionversion=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <0a36c1f72888bca0237295a4da19cd91821a90be
  6. Affected versionversion=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <4d0a375887ab4d49e4da1ff10f9606cab8f7c3ad
  7. Affected versionversion=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <520454e839710c327808c2fcc98e28cee77355fc
  8. Affected versionversion=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <6982653ce5f119982aa58f1af58e7bfbebf39252
  9. Affected versionversion=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <da1d615ce49a47986a8864e2371a26e97861085c
  10. Affected versionversion=af3d2e0f3a54e67806959d161e613457772babc5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=4782968e0d631b0d8944dcfd4bf8fb49be087101; version=6.4.16 <6.5; version=6.5.3 <6.6; version=6.6; version=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <0a36c1f72888bca0237295a4da19cd91821a90be; version=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <4d0a375887ab4d49e4da1ff10f9606cab8f7c3ad; version=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <520454e839710c327808c2fcc98e28cee77355fc; version=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <6982653ce5f119982aa58f1af58e7bfbebf39252; version=ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 <da1d615ce49a47986a8864e2371a26e97861085c; version=af3d2e0f3a54e67806959d161e613457772babc5

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

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

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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