CVE-2026-63973: Linux kernel · net: mana: Add NULL guards in teardown path to prevent panic on attach failure
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1 : 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 5% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1068.75~22.04.1 +37
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 20 Jul 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 26.04 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?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 to affected Linux kernel versions to add NULL pointer checks in the MANA driver's teardown paths, preventing kernel panic on attach failure. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions as indicated by their distribution. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official fix.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's MANA network driver was fixed by adding NULL pointer checks in the teardown paths to prevent kernel panic due to NULL pointer dereferences. The issue occurs when queue allocation fails partway, leading to freed and NULLed pointers that subsequent functions dereference without NULL checks, causing a panic. This flaw affects multiple teardown functions such as mana_remove(), mana_change_mtu() recovery, and internal error handling in mana_alloc_queues(). The vulnerability has a medium severity with a CVSS score of 5.5 and does not impact confidentiality or integrity but causes denial of service via kernel panic.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-63973 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-63973 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/17bfe0a8c014ee1d542ad352cd6a0a505361664a (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)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8903-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8905-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8906-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8904-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8903-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8905-2 (opens in a new tab)