CVE-2026-64417: Linux kernel · mm: shrinker: fix NULL pointer dereference in debugfs
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1 : 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 7.0.0-1012.12~24.04.1, 7.0.0-1011.11~24.04.1, 7.0.0-31.31~24.04.1 +7
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 25 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 included in updated Linux kernel packages for the affected Ubuntu releases. Users should apply the security updates (e.g., linux-image-7.0.0-1012-aws, linux-image-7.0.0-1011-gcp, linux-image-7.0.0-31-generic, and related packages) and reboot the system to activate the fixes. Due to an ABI change, recompilation and reinstallation of third-party kernel modules may be necessary. Follow the vendor's update instructions as detailed in Ubuntu security notices USN-8726-1 and USN-8727-1.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mm: shrinker: fix NULL pointer dereference in debugfs shrinker_debugfs_add() creates both "count" and "scan" debugfs files unconditionally. That assumes every shrinker implements both count_objects() and scan_objects(), which is not guaranteed. For example, the xen-backend shrinker sets count_objects() but leaves scan_objects() NULL, so writing to its scan file calls through a NULL function pointer and panics the kernel: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 RIP: 0010:0x0 Code: Unable to access opcode bytes at 0xffffffffffffffd6. Call Trace: <TASK> shrinker_debugfs_scan_write+0x12e/0x270 full_proxy_write+0x5f/0x90 vfs_write+0xde/0x420 ? filp_flush+0x75/0x90 ? filp_close+0x1d/0x30 ? do_dup2+0xb8/0x120 ksys_write+0x68/0xf0 ? filp_flush+0x75/0x90 do_syscall_64+0xb3/0x5b0 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x76/0x7e The count path has the same issue in principle if a shrinker omits count_objects(). To fix it, only create "count" and "scan" debugfs files when the corresponding callbacks are present.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-64417 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/006467ab932698612398f853344a7405164541f4 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/09d2407985b8ce3e831f9d4310fe7ac06a6b3ae9 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/36f8534f461222291a74156ab91f3ba9f09b6f93 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b9beed2322f3538b0d2d53307062da4102b8d8d8 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e30453c61e185e914fde83c650e268067b140218 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ebb45c2648b1f60715fd283700f651e05e431231 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-64417 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-64417 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/e30453c61e185e914fde83c650e268067b140218 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8726-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8727-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8728-1 (opens in a new tab)