CVE-2026-93236
Received Received - Intake

NULL Pointer Dereference in Linux Kernel Media Subsystem

Publication date: 2026-09-24

Last updated on: 2026-09-24

Assigner: kernel.org

Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: media: meson: vdec: fix NULL pointer deref in vdec_try_fmt_common When VIDIOC_TRY_FMT is called with an unsupported pixel format on the OUTPUT queue, vdec_try_fmt_common() falls back to V4L2_PIX_FMT_MPEG2. However, if a distro has locally patched MPEG2 support out (as it has been broken for some time) the platform format table does not contain MPEG2 so find_format() returns NULL and the subsequent dereference of fmt_out->max_width triggers a NULL pointer dereference. Fix this by falling back to the first format in the platform's format array instead of hardcoding V4L2_PIX_FMT_MPEG2. This is always valid since every platform defines at least one format.

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Meta Information

Published
2026-09-24
Last Modified
2026-09-24
Generated
2026-09-25
AI Q&A
2026-09-24
EPSS Evaluated
N/A
NVD
CVE-2026-93236
EUVD
EUVD-2026-86241

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 is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's media subsystem. It occurs when the VIDIOC_TRY_FMT ioctl is called with an unsupported pixel format on the OUTPUT queue. The function vdec_try_fmt_common tries to fall back to MPEG2 format, but if MPEG2 support is disabled locally, the format table lacks MPEG2, causing find_format to return NULL. Dereferencing a NULL pointer leads to a crash.

Detection Guidance

This vulnerability is specific to the Linux kernel's media subsystem and requires kernel-level detection. Check if your kernel version is affected by running: uname -a. If your kernel version matches affected versions, inspect kernel logs for NULL pointer dereference errors during media operations.

Impact Analysis

This vulnerability can cause system crashes or kernel panics when processing certain video formats. It may lead to denial of service if exploited maliciously or through unexpected input. Systems using affected Linux kernel versions with the meson vdec driver could experience instability during media operations.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability does not directly affect compliance with GDPR, HIPAA, or similar standards. It is a local denial-of-service issue in the Linux kernel's media subsystem that could crash a system but does not involve data breaches or unauthorized access.

Mitigation Strategies

Update your Linux kernel to the latest stable version that includes the fix for CVE-2026-93236. If immediate patching is not possible, disable vulnerable media modules or restrict access to VIDIOC_TRY_FMT ioctl calls as a temporary workaround.

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