CVE-2026-45978
Analyzed Analyzed - Analysis Complete
NULL Pointer Dereference in Linux Kernel Greybus Lights Subsystem

Publication date: 2026-05-27

Last updated on: 2026-06-16

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: staging: greybus: lights: avoid NULL deref gb_lights_light_config() stores channel_count before allocating the channels array. If kcalloc() fails, gb_lights_release() iterates the non-zero count and dereferences light->channels, which is NULL. Allocate channels first and only then publish channels_count so the cleanup path can't walk a NULL pointer.
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Meta Information
Published
2026-05-27
Last Modified
2026-06-16
Generated
2026-06-16
AI Q&A
2026-05-27
EPSS Evaluated
2026-06-15
NVD
CVE-2026-45978
EUVD
EUVD-2026-32262
Affected Vendors & Products
Showing 7 associated CPEs
Vendor Product Version / Range
linux linux_kernel From 6.13 (inc) to 6.18.14 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.19 (inc) to 6.19.4 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.2 (inc) to 6.6.128 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 6.7 (inc) to 6.12.75 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.11 (inc) to 5.15.202 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 5.16 (inc) to 6.1.165 (exc)
linux linux_kernel From 4.9 (inc) to 5.10.252 (exc)
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
CWE
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KEV
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CWE ID Description
CWE-476 The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
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Executive Summary

This vulnerability exists in the Linux kernel's greybus lights component. Specifically, the function gb_lights_light_config() stores a channel_count value before allocating memory for the channels array. If the memory allocation (kcalloc) fails, the cleanup function gb_lights_release() attempts to iterate over the channels using the non-zero channel_count, but since the channels pointer is NULL, this results in a NULL pointer dereference.

The fix involves allocating the channels array first and only then setting the channels_count, preventing the cleanup code from dereferencing a NULL pointer.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can cause a NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel, which may lead to a kernel crash or system instability. Such crashes can result in denial of service conditions, affecting system availability.

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