CVE-2026-23439: Linux kernel · udp_tunnel: fix NULL deref caused by udp_sock_create6 when CONFIG_IPV6=n
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 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 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2 +63
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 3 Apr 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?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?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 to affected linux-aws kernel versions. The patch changes udp_sock_create6 to return an error instead of success when IPv6 is disabled, preventing the NULL pointer dereference. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's udp_tunnel component was fixed where the function udp_sock_create6 improperly returned success when IPv6 support was disabled (CONFIG_IPV6=n). This led to a NULL pointer dereference when callers attempted to use the uninitialized socket pointer, causing a kernel crash. Only privileged users can trigger this issue. A patch is available that changes the function to return an error code instead, preventing the NULL dereference.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23439 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23439 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b3a6df291fecf5f8a308953b65ca72b7fc9e015d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/003343985f26dfefd0c94b1fe1316a2de74428b9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/12aa4b73a67d95bc739995a2d6943aec2f9785c9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9f036aa0fe46c19e938f03d10e02c23f4fffae5e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a05a2149386f6dfb4245f522acdbef892acafc84 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b3a6df291fecf5f8a308953b65ca72b7fc9e015d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ba7c9ddcdd077942b798979edb035207374d4096 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8567-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8596-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8575-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8576-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8597-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)