CVE-2026-97947

Kernel crash via unchecked AMD root pointer

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026

A NULL pointer dereference in Linux 6.14 x86 AMD node handling allows attackers to crash the kernel after SMN initialization fails. The __amd_smn_rw() helper indexes amd_roots when exported amd_smn_read() or amd_smn_write() runs even though amd_smn_init() exited before allocating that array. The failure requires an AMD x86 system where SMN initialization fails and a kernel caller subsequently invokes an exported SMN accessor; the documented consequence is a kernel fault, not code execution.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.20%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A NULL pointer dereference in Linux 6.14 x86 AMD node handling allows attackers to crash the kernel after SMN initialization fails. The __amd_smn_rw() helper indexes amd_roots when exported amd_smn_read() or amd_smn_write() runs even though amd_smn_init() exited before allocating that array. The failure requires an AMD x86 system where SMN initialization fails and a kernel caller subsequently invokes an exported SMN accessor; the documented consequence is a kernel fault, not code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-97947
Published
Sep 25, 2026
Updated
Sep 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
Unavailable
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 25, 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=6.14
  2. Affected versionversion=77466b798d59d6761501ff36094cf430d3876549 <a797a2331e5d2ecdbccbae222ea71c759fdb2c2b
  3. Affected versionversion=77466b798d59d6761501ff36094cf430d3876549 <aefdbd574a362dcf7569bada6d72f64a006b9fb9
  4. Affected versionversion=77466b798d59d6761501ff36094cf430d3876549 <fcd19bc829eca237742a3b123f839ad1c473ec85

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorUnavailable in this record.
Required privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.14; version=77466b798d59d6761501ff36094cf430d3876549 <a797a2331e5d2ecdbccbae222ea71c759fdb2c2b; version=77466b798d59d6761501ff36094cf430d3876549 <aefdbd574a362dcf7569bada6d72f64a006b9fb9; version=77466b798d59d6761501ff36094cf430d3876549 <fcd19bc829eca237742a3b123f839ad1c473ec85

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

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

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No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
VectorUnavailable
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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