CVE-2026-97601: Linux kernel · ieee802154: 6lowpan: fix NULL dereference in lowpan_newlink
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 13:47 UTC
Rated by Threat Radar · CVSS not yet scored by NVD
- EPSS
- 0.2% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 11% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Exploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 25 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 has been implemented to reject devices without the ieee802154_ptr, preventing the NULL pointer dereference. Users should apply the updated linux-aws kernel versions that include this fix. Patch status is not explicitly confirmed in the provided data; therefore, check the vendor advisory for the latest remediation guidance.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's ieee802154 6lowpan subsystem allows a NULL pointer dereference via a crafted RTM_NEWLINK request. This occurs because the lowpan_newlink() function dereferences a pointer without verifying its initialization when a TUN device changes its link-layer type to ARPHRD_IEEE802154. This issue has been resolved by rejecting devices without the required ieee802154_ptr. The vulnerability affects specific linux-aws kernel versions.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-97601 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-97601 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/98ce5a42cde780ee0e40378607d4428c8fc12ec1 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/1c7710af7ad9532b534f1c134c11b04dbe4e0e0f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/bf79662bc85e820ac3b846e2f347da29fbf6ac95 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8528da2333ce05cf627f93425f9d05efb08b3146 (opens in a new tab)
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-97601 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/16d8e0b560d50cd1a9e6d77a9a154a94c4d6021e (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/5063b9354e6e285dae61e530b30458498444a914 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/543994fa03c36a91d967a12c5c99cae74899504c (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a1760f21c32adce41af5ed5687200865d8feaaeb (opens in a new tab)