Kernel crash via stale framebuffer-console state
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
NULL dereference in Linux kernels before 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, or 7.1.5 allows local users to crash the kernel. fbcon_new_modelist() treats fb_display[i].mode as proof that vc_cons[i].d is live, although fbcon_set_disp() can set the mode before its NULL check and fbcon_deinit() leaves it set after freeing vc_data. Reaching the fault requires a local write to a framebuffer modes sysfs node after an unallocated or deallocated virtual console retains a mode.
Summary
What happened
NULL dereference in Linux kernels before 5.15.212, 6.1.178, 6.6.145, 6.12.97, 6.18.40, or 7.1.5 allows local users to crash the kernel. fbcon_new_modelist() treats fb_display[i].mode as proof that vc_cons[i].d is live, although fbcon_set_disp() can set the mode before its NULL check and fbcon_deinit() leaves it set after freeing vc_data. Reaching the fault requires a local write to a framebuffer modes sysfs node after an unallocated or deallocated virtual console retains a mode.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74424
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 15, 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=0 <5.15.212
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.1.178
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.12.97
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.18.40
- Affected versionversion=0 <6.6.145
- Affected versionversion=0 <7.1.5
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <5fae9a928482d4845bca169a3a098789203a1ca4
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <6617df8c246311c82cebf061a4cee55b9df60922
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <8e9b8b008f4036df0318870c5d754134ff1b94cc
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9b783b7e03dc78ec102edf618259a2b55911fc6a
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <ac970358c5ca0775841bd2a56ce15dc464b99003
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <b134ad2f7c06b3c1098dcc95008e2045ff4b49b2
- Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <cc4382dc5134826a3936a6b08de17f7dc7abe232
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
No CVSS assessment is available in this record.
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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