CVE-2026-90228: Linux kernel · nvmet: fix NULL pointer dereference in nvmet_execute_identify_ns_zns()
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.5 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.6% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 52% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
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 17 Sep 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?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 fix is available that rejects Identify commands targeting file-backed namespaces with an Invalid Field error instead of dereferencing a NULL pointer. Users should apply the updated Linux kernel versions that include this fix. No additional mitigation is required beyond applying the official patch.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's nvmet subsystem causes a NULL pointer dereference in the function nvmet_execute_identify_ns_zns() when handling Identify commands targeting file-backed namespaces with Zoned Namespace (ZNS) support enabled. This occurs because the code calls bdev_is_zoned() on a NULL block device pointer, leading to a kernel crash (oops). The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and is triggered when CONFIG_BLK_DEV_ZONED is enabled. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 7.5 and is classified as medium severity.
References
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-90228 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0b4cf43f9ca7118590a338de900edbd6047cd89f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1ce8faf90eb0bf5599b90db38500aefea9426485 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1fb1236312ee1a600de6b3ca560f0b3fd5a50471 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b873099944dae5702b4b6db6814d1f1e8d4cfb00 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/cc29f7082b7ab5e0337f27d1fef16359f05fcffa (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/f594863967d87b7fcbff6e724d51135fd701a13d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ff28a93a895912010a7827a0e1445ebe8be53b4d (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-90228 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-90228 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/f594863967d87b7fcbff6e724d51135fd701a13d (opens in a new tab)