CVE-2026-45966 Details
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: apparmor: fix NULL pointer dereference in __unix_needs_revalidation When receiving file descriptors via SCM_RIGHTS, both the socket pointer and the socket's sk pointer can be NULL during socket setup or teardown, causing NULL pointer dereferences in __unix_needs_revalidation(). This is a regression in AppArmor 5.0.0 (kernel 6.17+) where the new __unix_needs_revalidation() function was added without proper NULL checks. The crash manifests as: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0x0000000000000018 RIP: aa_file_perm+0xb7/0x3b0 (or +0xbe/0x3b0, +0xc0/0x3e0) Call Trace: apparmor_file_receive+0x42/0x80 security_file_receive+0x2e/0x50 receive_fd+0x1d/0xf0 scm_detach_fds+0xad/0x1c0 The function dereferences sock->sk->sk_family without checking if either sock or sock->sk is NULL first. Add NULL checks for both sock and sock->sk before accessing sk_family.
A NULL pointer dereference vulnerability has been identified in the Linux kernel's AppArmor component, specifically in versions 5.0.0 and later (kernel 6.17+). The issue arises in the '__unix_needs_revalidation()' function, which was introduced in AppArmor 5.0.0 without adequate NULL checks. When file descriptors are received via SCM_RIGHTS, both the socket pointer and its 'sk' pointer can be NULL during the setup or teardown of the socket, leading to a crash. The vulnerability manifests as a kernel NULL pointer dereference, with the call trace indicating the error occurs while processing file permissions through AppArmor's file receive function.
Users can upgrade to the patched version of the Linux kernel available in the official Linux kernel repositories. Instructions for upgrading the kernel can be found in the documentation for the specific Linux distribution in use.
Metrics
CVSS 4.0 Severity and Vector Strings:
No CVSS 4.0 data is available for this CVE.
CVSS 3.x Severity and Vector Strings:
No data available for CVSS Version 2.0 on this CVE.
No SSVC data is available for this CVE.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
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| URL | Source(s) | Tag(s) |
|---|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2938ad00b21340c0362562dfedd7cfec0554d67 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e85bc9101afc4202aa2269967ce9d3ffbecd0994 | kernel.org | Patch |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/fea017a7f6abe179decf575a2d8464c74edb3964 | kernel.org | Patch |
Weakness Enumeration
| CWE-ID | CWE Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| CWE-476 | NULL Pointer Dereference | [email protected] |
Affected Products
| Product | Versions |
|---|---|
| linux linux kernel | >= 6.17, < 6.18.14 >= 6.19, < 6.19.4 |
CPE
Remediation
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Change History
3 change records found show changes
| Date | Action | Recorded By |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 17, 2026 | CVE Modified | kernel.org |
| Jun 16, 2026 | Initial Analysis | [email protected] |
| May 27, 2026 | New CVE Received | kernel.org |