CVE-2026-40197: CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference in lxc incus
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. In versions before 7.0.0, missing validation logic in the storage volume import logic allows an authenticated user with access to the storage volume feature to cause the Incus daemon to crash. The custom volume backup import subsystem contains a nil-pointer dereference vulnerability during import operations. In the snapshot import loop, the daemon iterates over entries from `srcBackup.Config.VolumeSnapshots` and assumes that each slice element is initialized, then dereferences fields such as `Name`, `Config`, `Description`, `CreatedAt`, and `ExpiresAt` without first validating the element itself. Because the yaml unmarshaler accepts explicit null array elements from an attacker-controlled index.yaml and converts them into nil pointers inside the slice, an attacker can supply a backup archive containing a null entry in the volume_snapshots array. This causes a nil-pointer dereference during custom volume import and terminates the daemon, resulting in denial of service on the affected node. Repeated use of this issue can be used to keep Incus offline, causing a denial of service. This issue is fixed in version 7.0.0.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
Incus versions before 7.0.0 contain a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability (CWE-476) in the custom volume backup import subsystem. During snapshot import, the daemon iterates over the volume snapshots array without validating if elements are nil. The yaml unmarshaler can convert attacker-controlled null array elements into nil pointers, which when dereferenced cause the daemon to crash. This leads to denial of service on the affected node. The issue requires an authenticated user with access to the storage volume feature to exploit. The vulnerability is addressed in Incus 7.0.0.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation causes the Incus daemon to crash, resulting in denial of service on the affected node. Repeated exploitation can keep the service offline, disrupting container and virtual machine management. There is no indication of privilege escalation or data corruption from the provided information.
Mitigation Recommendations
This issue is fixed in Incus version 7.0.0. Users should upgrade to version 7.0.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the vendor advisory content provided, but the fix is stated to be in version 7.0.0. Until upgrade, restrict authenticated user access to the storage volume feature to trusted users only.
CVE-2026-40197: CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference in lxc incus
Description
Incus is a system container and virtual machine manager. In versions before 7.0.0, missing validation logic in the storage volume import logic allows an authenticated user with access to the storage volume feature to cause the Incus daemon to crash. The custom volume backup import subsystem contains a nil-pointer dereference vulnerability during import operations. In the snapshot import loop, the daemon iterates over entries from `srcBackup.Config.VolumeSnapshots` and assumes that each slice element is initialized, then dereferences fields such as `Name`, `Config`, `Description`, `CreatedAt`, and `ExpiresAt` without first validating the element itself. Because the yaml unmarshaler accepts explicit null array elements from an attacker-controlled index.yaml and converts them into nil pointers inside the slice, an attacker can supply a backup archive containing a null entry in the volume_snapshots array. This causes a nil-pointer dereference during custom volume import and terminates the daemon, resulting in denial of service on the affected node. Repeated use of this issue can be used to keep Incus offline, causing a denial of service. This issue is fixed in version 7.0.0.
CVSS v4.0
Score 7.1high
Affected software
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Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
Incus versions before 7.0.0 contain a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability (CWE-476) in the custom volume backup import subsystem. During snapshot import, the daemon iterates over the volume snapshots array without validating if elements are nil. The yaml unmarshaler can convert attacker-controlled null array elements into nil pointers, which when dereferenced cause the daemon to crash. This leads to denial of service on the affected node. The issue requires an authenticated user with access to the storage volume feature to exploit. The vulnerability is addressed in Incus 7.0.0.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation causes the Incus daemon to crash, resulting in denial of service on the affected node. Repeated exploitation can keep the service offline, disrupting container and virtual machine management. There is no indication of privilege escalation or data corruption from the provided information.
Mitigation Recommendations
This issue is fixed in Incus version 7.0.0. Users should upgrade to version 7.0.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the vendor advisory content provided, but the fix is stated to be in version 7.0.0. Until upgrade, restrict authenticated user access to the storage volume feature to trusted users only.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-04-09T20:59:17.621Z
- Cvss Version
- 4.0
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 69fba9cccbff5d86105e9c32
Added to database: 05/06/2026, 20:51:24 UTC
Last enriched: 05/14/2026, 03:50:35 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 21:34:32 UTC
Views: 100
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