CVE-2026-23174
NULL Pointer Dereference in Linux NVMe Driver DMA Handling
Publication date: 2026-02-14
Last updated on: 2026-02-14
Assigner: kernel.org
Description
Description
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| linux | linux_kernel | * |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-UNKNOWN |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's nvme-pci driver related to handling device DMA (Direct Memory Access) map requirements. The issue arises because the initial state of dma_needs_unmap may be false but can change to true during the data mapping process, such as when enabling swiotlb. The nvme driver incorrectly assumes that DMA vectors are always allocated at the beginning, but since the requirements can change mid-iteration, it may attempt to access uninitialized dma_vecs, leading to a NULL pointer dereference. The fix involves allocating DMA vectors as needed during iteration rather than assuming they were allocated initially.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
This vulnerability can cause a NULL pointer dereference in the nvme-pci driver, which may lead to a kernel crash or system instability. Such crashes can result in denial of service conditions, potentially disrupting system operations that rely on NVMe storage devices.
How does this vulnerability affect compliance with common standards and regulations (like GDPR, HIPAA)?:
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How can this vulnerability be detected on my network or system? Can you suggest some commands?
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What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
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