Kernel fault via unallocated CPU-buffer metadata read
Published Oct 28, 2026 · Updated Oct 28, 2026
A NULL dereference in Linux ring-buffer metadata allows local users to trigger a kernel fault by reading a CPU's buffer_meta file. In kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c, rbm_start() dereferences cpu_buffer even when the selected CPU has never come online and its buffer has not been allocated. Access requires permission to read the tracefs file and a CPU in that state; the documented consequence is a NULL-pointer fault, not data disclosure or code execution.
Summary
What happened
A NULL dereference in Linux ring-buffer metadata allows local users to trigger a kernel fault by reading a CPU's buffer_meta file. In kernel/trace/ring_buffer.c, rbm_start() dereferences cpu_buffer even when the selected CPU has never come online and its buffer has not been allocated. Access requires permission to read the tracefs file and a CPU in that state; the documented consequence is a NULL-pointer fault, not data disclosure or code execution.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-99160
- Published
- Oct 28, 2026
- Updated
- Oct 28, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- Unavailable
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Oct 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Oct 28, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.
Is a vulnerable build present?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=6.12
- Affected versionversion=950032ffcee7a43c960951940059afc5a2bdbcbc <3f23cae09a4677a3f7c163a68388512cb231ff22
- Affected versionversion=950032ffcee7a43c960951940059afc5a2bdbcbc <8512d0312cc0ea83ca4511b164c29a138bbb0c21
- Affected versionversion=950032ffcee7a43c960951940059afc5a2bdbcbc <ae670c1a24fb5ffb167f26358cf47a5f0abbd670
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
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
Check the software in your environment
Get started to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.
Contact us