CVE-2026-23206: Linux kernel · dpaa2-switch: prevent ZERO_SIZE_PTR dereference when num_ifs is zero
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1111.118~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1111.118~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1116.125~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1111.121~20.04.1 +58
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 14 Feb 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by Mirage: no evidence on record.
No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors
A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.
What to do
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-40.40?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1019.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1020.20?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1020.22?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1018.18?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
A patch is available and should be applied by updating the linux-hwe-edge kernel to versions 5.15.0-1111.118~20.04.1 or later, 5.15.0-1116.125~20.04.1 or later, 5.15.0-1111.121~20.04.1 or later, and 5.15.0-185.195~20.04.1 or later as appropriate. After applying the update, a system reboot is required to complete the remediation. Follow the vendor advisory instructions for the update process. No additional mitigations are specified or required.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's dpaa2-switch driver could cause a kernel panic due to a zero-size pointer dereference when the device reports zero interfaces. This occurs because the driver allocates arrays with zero elements, leading to a ZERO_SIZE_PTR being dereferenced unconditionally. The issue has been fixed by adding a check to ensure the number of interfaces is greater than zero before proceeding. The vulnerability affects certain versions of the linux-hwe-edge kernel prior to specified fixed versions. A patch is available and should be applied to prevent system crashes.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23206 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23206 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/ed48a84a72fefb20a82dd90a7caa7807e90c6f66 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/155eb99aff2920153bf21217ae29565fff81e6af (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/2fcccca88456b592bd668db13aa1d29ed257ca2b (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4acc40db06ffd0fd92683505342b00c8a7394c60 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/80165ff16051448d6f840585ebe13f2400415df3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b97415c4362f739e25ec6f71012277086fabdf6f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ed48a84a72fefb20a82dd90a7caa7807e90c6f66 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8278-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8289-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8296-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8296-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8289-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8278-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8393-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8440-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8493-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8499-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8493-2 (opens in a new tab)