CVE-2026-46118: Linux kernel · pseries/papr-hvpipe: Fix null ptr deref in papr_hvpipe_dev_create_handle()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · patch available : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 1% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available
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 28 May 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@7.0.0-28.28?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@7.0.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke@7.0.0-1003.4?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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 kernel to version 7.0.0-28.28 or later (and corresponding patched builds). After applying the update, a system reboot is required. Due to an ABI change, third-party kernel modules must be recompiled and reinstalled. Follow vendor instructions for updating kernel packages to the fixed versions listed in the Ubuntu security advisories USN-8566-1 and USN-8568-1.
Description
A null pointer dereference vulnerability in the Linux kernel's papr-hvpipe subsystem (CVE-2026-46118) has been fixed. The issue was caused by improper error handling after converting papr_hvpipe_dev_create_handle() to use FD_PREPARE(), leading to a kernel panic due to a null pointer dereference when adding a handle to a global list. This vulnerability can cause a denial of service via kernel crash. The issue affects multiple Linux kernel versions prior to 7.0.0-28.28 and related builds. A patch is available and should be applied to prevent kernel crashes.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-46118 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46118 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/1b9f7aafa44f5ce852c00509104d10fd9eb0f402 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1b9f7aafa44f5ce852c00509104d10fd9eb0f402 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/735439394dde8462f9b50566727fbe333beaadaf (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cf51bec1560f8bf115d1476f60335f9d90e110b0 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8566-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8568-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8569-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8593-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8603-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8618-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8663-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8664-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-1 (opens in a new tab)