Kernel crash via exhausted TIPC publication table
Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Sep 25, 2026
NULL pointer dereference in Linux TIPC allows local users to crash the kernel by exhausting the local publication table. named_distribute() passes the empty publication queue left after tipc_nametbl_publish() reaches TIPC_MAX_PUBL to skb_peek_tail(), after which buf_msg() dereferences NULL. Access to TIPC sockets and enough bindings to reach 65,535 local publications is required; the resulting null dereference panics the kernel.
Summary
What happened
NULL pointer dereference in Linux TIPC allows local users to crash the kernel by exhausting the local publication table. named_distribute() passes the empty publication queue left after tipc_nametbl_publish() reaches TIPC_MAX_PUBL to skb_peek_tail(), after which buf_msg() dereferences NULL. Access to TIPC sockets and enough bindings to reach 65,535 local publications is required; the resulting null dereference panics the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-98098
- Published
- Sep 25, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=3.15
- Affected versionversion=a5e7ac5ce134d8f72f59631011fafa7bbf7ca174 <68619f965329d2f7b113a3d5811aa23198f39105
- Affected versionversion=a5e7ac5ce134d8f72f59631011fafa7bbf7ca174 <ad805326d874062f8bc72a94884f86046148cde3
- Affected versionversion=a5e7ac5ce134d8f72f59631011fafa7bbf7ca174 <b3b76e9f4f2476f1135b2ba7743a821db4a0df4b
- Affected versionversion=a5e7ac5ce134d8f72f59631011fafa7bbf7ca174 <d0d82f1214f321143c5dbc2e48e4a4e6c4226895
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
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