CVE-2026-64545 — net, bpf: check master for NULL in xdp_master_redirect()
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net, bpf: check master for NULL in xdp_master_redirect() xdp_master_redirect() dereferences the result of netdev_master_upper_dev_get_rcu() without a NULL check, but that helper returns NULL when the receiving device has no upper-master adjacency. The reach guard only checks netif_is_bond_slave(). On bond slave release bond_upper_dev_unlink() drops the upper-master adjacency before clearing IFF_SLAVE, so an XDP_TX reaching xdp_master_redirect() in that window still passes netif_is_bond_slave() while master is already NULL, and faults on master->flags at offset 0xb0: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 00000000000000b0 RIP: 0010:xdp_master_redirect (net/core/filter.c:4432) Call Trace: xdp_master_redirect (net/core/filter.c:4432) bpf_prog_run_generic_xdp (include/net/xdp.h:700) do_xdp_generic (net/core/dev.c:5608) __netif_receive_skb_one_core (net/core/dev.c:6204) process_backlog (net/core/dev.c:6319) __napi_poll (net/core/dev.c:7729) net_rx_action (net/core/dev.c:7792) handle_softirqs (kernel/softirq.c:622) __dev_queue_xmit (include/linux/bottom_half.h:33) packet_sendmsg (net/packet/af_packet.c:3082) __sys_sendto (net/socket.c:2252) Kernel panic - not syncing: Fatal exception in interrupt The missing check dates back to the original code; commit 1921f91298d1 ("net, bpf: fix null-ptr-deref in xdp_master_redirect() for down master") later added the master->flags read where the fault now lands but kept the unconditional deref. Check master for NULL before use; a NULL master is treated the same as one that is not up.
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 0.5% (30-day exploitation probability)+6
- Technical severity (high)+6
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.
No fix documented by the sources we poll. That does not mean none exists: check the vendor advisory.
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).
- The attack is network-based and needs no privileges: restrict exposure (ACLs, VPN, WAF) until patched.
- No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
- Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.
Affected scope
Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.
| Vendor | Product | Versions | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | Linux | ≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < c99ca049e910d61ddbd28cc2c47242f2bfbb4970≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < e2a56441233131fe18a76001de347ecda217e40c≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < 3876318ea54e83eb70982b8280a3c5e4e32269bf≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < 4edbcacca09f92b85d3951b6add11894b20a84bc≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < 03b743586a2469744e96e9c1015096d07240935d≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < 89c103d702b25ceb2d097faf854deb47b53b17ff≥ 879af96ffd72706c6e3278ea6b45b0b0e37ec5d7 and < e82d8cc4321c373dc46e741cd2dfdaa7921fddb7version 5.15 | Vulnerable | CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | 3.9 | 3.6 | 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 via NIST National Vulnerability Database |
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | GitHub, Inc. via GitHub Security Advisories |
| 7.5 | CVSS 3.1 | High | — | — | Linux via CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP |
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H (score shown at the top: 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67) Detection
Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.
- Prioritize edge telemetry for the network-reachable component (proxy, WAF, IDS/IPS).
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Source status changed · Published → Received
- Record published
- CVSS changed · 7.5
- Source status changed · → Published
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 2× References added · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026
References
11 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e82d8cc4321c373dc46e741cd2dfdaa7921fddb7
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/e2a56441233131fe18a76001de347ecda217e40c
- github.com/advisories/GHSA-5fp4-82x6-8894
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-457936.html
- cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-019113.html
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/4edbcacca09f92b85d3951b6add11894b20a84bc
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c99ca049e910d61ddbd28cc2c47242f2bfbb4970
- nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-64545
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/03b743586a2469744e96e9c1015096d07240935d
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/3876318ea54e83eb70982b8280a3c5e4e32269bf
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/89c103d702b25ceb2d097faf854deb47b53b17ff
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 13h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 13h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98424 wifi: cfg80211: undo netns switch if renaming the wiphy fails 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98425 wifi: mac80211: don't warn when an IBSS has no channel to scan 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98426 wifi: mwifiex: fix IRQ leak using wrong index in MSI-X error path 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 1d
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 fixed version, patch or mitigation documented.
- No CISA SSVC assessment.
- No CWE classification.
- 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-2026-64545 is "net, bpf: check master for NULL in xdp_master_redirect()", rated High. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. CVSS 7.5 describes technical severity. EPSS 0.50% 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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