CVE-2026-45848
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NULL Pointer Dereference in Linux Kernel

Publication date: 2026-05-27

Last updated on: 2026-05-27

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: apparmor: fix NULL sock in aa_sock_file_perm Deal with the potential that sock and sock-sk can be NULL during socket setup or teardown. This could lead to an oops. The fix for NULL pointer dereference in __unix_needs_revalidation shows this is at least possible for af_unix sockets. While the fix for af_unix sockets applies for newer mediation this is still the fall back path for older af_unix mediation and other sockets, so ensure it is covered.
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Meta Information
Published
2026-05-27
Last Modified
2026-05-27
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2026-05-27
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2026-45848
EUVD
EUVD-2026-32314
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 1 associated CPE
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel *
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Exploitability
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CWE ID Description
CWE-UNKNOWN
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's AppArmor security module, specifically related to handling socket permissions. It involves a potential NULL pointer dereference when dealing with socket setup or teardown, particularly for af_unix sockets. If the socket or socket-sk structures are NULL, it could lead to a kernel oops (crash). The issue arises because older mediation paths and some other sockets might still use a fallback path that does not properly handle NULL pointers.

Impact Analysis

The impact of this vulnerability is that it could cause the Linux kernel to crash (an oops) due to a NULL pointer dereference during socket operations. This could lead to system instability or denial of service, affecting the availability of the system or services running on it.

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