CVE-2026-53032 — bpf: Fix NULL deref in map_kptr_match_type for scalar regs
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf: Fix NULL deref in map_kptr_match_type for scalar regs Commit ab6c637ad027 ("bpf: Fix a bpf_kptr_xchg() issue with local kptr") refactored map_kptr_match_type() to branch on btf_is_kernel() before checking base_type(). A scalar register stored into a kptr slot has no btf, so the btf_is_kernel(reg->btf) call dereferences NULL. Move the base_type() != PTR_TO_BTF_ID guard before any reg->btf access.
Who exploits it and how urgent it is
A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.
How the score was calculated
- EPSS 0.1% (30-day exploitation probability)+0
- Technical severity (medium)+3
The score orders the patch queue; it does not replace your asset context (internet exposure, criticality, compensating controls).
Triage
Is it exploited, how likely is exploitation, what does it touch, and how severe do the sources call it.
Remediation
Fixes and mitigations documented by the sources — linked to the original advisory.
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
- Documented patch — git.kernel.org (NIST National Vulnerability Database)
First 24 hours
Ordered from the record’s own fields — exposure first, because you cannot patch what you have not found. A rule-generated starting point.
- Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux, Linux Linux Kernel).
- Apply the fixed version or the patch documented under Remediation.
- Search available logs for exploit probes matching the vulnerability class (memory corruption), errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux |
≥ ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 and < 520454e839710c327808c2fcc98e28cee77355fc≥ ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 and < 0a36c1f72888bca0237295a4da19cd91821a90be≥ ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 and < 6982653ce5f119982aa58f1af58e7bfbebf39252≥ ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 and < da1d615ce49a47986a8864e2371a26e97861085c≥ ab6c637ad0276e42f8acabcbc64932a6d346dab3 and < 4d0a375887ab4d49e4da1ff10f9606cab8f7c3adversion af3d2e0f3a54e67806959d161e613457772babc5version 4782968e0d631b0d8944dcfd4bf8fb49be087101≥ 6.4.16 and < 6.5 and 2 more≥ 6.5.3 and < 6.6version 6.6 |
Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
| Linux | Linux Kernel | ≥ 6.4.16 and < 6.5≥ 6.5.3 and < 6.6.141≥ 6.7 and < 6.12.91≥ 6.13 and < 6.18.33≥ 6.19 and < 7.0.10 | Vulnerable | NIST National Vulnerability Database |
Attack characteristics
The CVSS vector, decoded. It describes the attack, not your exposure to it.
Every base score collected
Sources score independently and may disagree; each row says who scored it and under which version.
| Score | Version | Severity | Expl. | Impact | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 | CVSS 3.1 | Medium | 1.8 | 3.6 | nvd@nist.gov via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H (score shown at the top: nvd@nist.gov) Weakness MITRE
Weakness class according to MITRE’s CWE catalog.
EPSS over time FIRST
Oct 13, 2026 → Oct 15, 2026 · 3 reading(s) · max 0.12%
Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Local/physical vector: focus on endpoint telemetry (EDR) from affected hosts.
- Correlate service crashes/restarts with inbound traffic; repeated crashes may indicate attempts.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Record published
- Fix documented
- CVSS changed · 5.5
- Source status changed · → Analyzed
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 13, 2026 – Oct 13, 2026
References
5 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/520454e839710c327808c2fcc98e28cee77355fc
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/6982653ce5f119982aa58f1af58e7bfbebf39252
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0a36c1f72888bca0237295a4da19cd91821a90be
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/da1d615ce49a47986a8864e2371a26e97861085c
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4d0a375887ab4d49e4da1ff10f9606cab8f7c3ad
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 2d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 2d
Not in any source we poll
Listed rather than left blank: an empty field and an unmeasured one look identical on screen, and only one is a reason to look elsewhere.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No confirmed IOCs, IP addresses, domains, file hashes, or malware artifacts supplied.
- No organization-specific asset inventory, compensating-control status, or patch deployment evidence supplied.
- No exploit packet captures, log samples, or incident case IDs supplied.
Answered from this record
Text assembled only from the fields above — no additional claims.
What should defenders know first?
CVE-2026-53032 is "bpf: Fix NULL deref in map_kptr_match_type for scalar regs", rated Medium. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 5.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.12% estimates the probability of exploitation in 30 days; neither replaces your asset context. First verify whether exposed or business-critical assets run the affected versions, apply vendor fixes or mitigations, and preserve logs for review.
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