Kernel crash via zero-byte RDMA counter allocation
Published Sep 11, 2026 · Updated Sep 11, 2026
NULL-pointer dereference in Linux 6.18 allows attackers to crash the kernel via ionic RDMA counter allocation and binding. The ionic driver leaves size_rdma_counter unset, so rdma_zalloc_drv_obj() allocates zero bytes and alloc_and_bind() dereferences a null result. Reachability requires the ionic RDMA driver and RDMA-capable AMD Pensando DSC hardware; public sources identify no broader effect than a kernel crash.
Summary
What happened
NULL-pointer dereference in Linux 6.18 allows attackers to crash the kernel via ionic RDMA counter allocation and binding. The ionic driver leaves size_rdma_counter unset, so rdma_zalloc_drv_obj() allocates zero bytes and alloc_and_bind() dereferences a null result. Reachability requires the ionic RDMA driver and RDMA-capable AMD Pensando DSC hardware; public sources identify no broader effect than a kernel crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-89509
- Published
- Sep 11, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 11, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- Unavailable
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 11, 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=6.18
- Affected versionversion=ea4c399642b85dc30f44d90ee805c6a18fa03062 <08b8630b557828aedb1d9ef0a6e2ec421f334ee2
- Affected versionversion=ea4c399642b85dc30f44d90ee805c6a18fa03062 <c98197ee3cd28288da13dc9881bb9e74daa7cbbc
- Affected versionversion=ea4c399642b85dc30f44d90ee805c6a18fa03062 <cf3ebd89e754015625fee90aa938f6bc79a2c974
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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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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