CVE-2026-74717: Linux kernel · net/mlx5: fw_tracer, return NULL on create error
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.5% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 42% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +27
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 22 Aug 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. The Ubuntu security advisory USN-8878-1 confirms the issue has been fixed. Users should update their systems to the patched kernel versions and reboot to apply the fix. No additional mitigation steps are required beyond applying the official update.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's mlx5 network driver was resolved where the fw_tracer creation function could return either NULL or ERR_PTR on failure. The code incorrectly treated these return values the same, leading to a NULL pointer dereference and a kernel crash during core dump logic. This flaw could cause a denial of service via system crash. The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been patched.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-74717 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/04599570c3a18f9ae7aad36825eb46f3dcd2c4e3 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/47fe0d2571e5b446a0f0b0c1d6b99f55e51f5cc0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4aafa600d93e9551c1f24e785d57cbd4adf021d5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/80094352bd40ba54a33731f9c22872493983ed6d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/9a416f000285a94c1b723877547981dec8132434 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/af39eb111ce6b5eba9c08513b62c4868eb7e7fd5 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b1d6375b9a63c9dc7e5e780d3ea9b126fe30d6cb (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ee41ea49c4ab0e4015919f52ad23ec251d3b39d3 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-74717 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-74717 (opens in a new tab)
- msrc.microsoft.com/csaf/vex/2026/msrc_cve-2026-74717.json (opens in a new tab)
- support.microsoft.com/lifecycle (opens in a new tab)
- first.org/cvss (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8878-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8879-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8877-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8886-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8875-2 (opens in a new tab)