CVE Intelligence
Unknown

CVE-2026-97974 — ipv6: null-check fib6_node before accessing in __ip6_del_rt_siblings()

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: null-check fib6_node before accessing in __ip6_del_rt_siblings() syzbot reported a null-ptr-deref in __ip6_del_rt_siblings() [0]. The stack trace hinted towards a null dereference of rt->fib6_node when fn->leaf is accessed in __ip6_del_rt_siblings(). With RTNL_FLAG_DOIT_UNLOCKED set, inet6_rtm_delroute() operations run concurrently without acquiring the RTNL lock. In ip6_route_del(), the route lookup happens under rcu_read_lock() without acquiring table->tb6_lock. Between ip6_route_del() looking up the route and __ip6_del_rt_siblings() acquiring table->tb6_lock, another thread can modify the routing table. For example, when an ECMP route is replaced via RTM_NEWROUTE with NLM_F_REPLACE, fib6_add_rt2node() unlinks all old siblings and sets iter->fib6_node = NULL. A reproducer was found that triggers this [1]. Add a check to ensure rt->fib6_node is non-null before accessing it. [0] KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000020-0x0000000000000027] RIP: 0010:__ip6_del_rt_siblings+0x31e/0x7c0 net/ipv6/route.c:4056 Call Trace: <TASK> ip6_route_del+0x1054/0x1110 net/ipv6/route.c:4232 inet6_rtm_delroute+0x5d7/0x6d0 net/ipv6/route.c:5669 rtnetlink_rcv_msg+0x802/0xc00 net/core/rtnetlink.c:7132 netlink_rcv_skb+0x226/0x4a0 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:2556 netlink_unicast_kernel net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1319 [inline] netlink_unicast+0x7f5/0x990 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1345 netlink_sendmsg+0x813/0xb40 net/netlink/af_netlink.c:1900 sock_sendmsg_nosec+0x13a/0x180 net/socket.c:800 __sock_sendmsg net/socket.c:815 [inline] ____sys_sendmsg+0x565/0x870 net/socket.c:2713 ___sys_sendmsg+0x2a5/0x360 net/socket.c:2767 __sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2799 [inline] __do_sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2804 [inline] __se_sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2802 [inline] __x64_sys_sendmsg+0x1b7/0x290 net/socket.c:2802 do_syscall_x64 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:61 [inline] do_syscall_64+0x166/0x520 arch/x86/entry/syscall_64.c:84 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x77/0x7f </TASK> [1] https://gist.github.com/NamanGulati/0766a1159b6ca61928faaf87425ff899

Published Sep 25, 2026 · Updated Oct 15, 2026 · Sources: NIST National Vulnerability Database, CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP · CNA: Linux

Who exploits it and how urgent it is

A 0–100 score combining confirmed exploitation, ransomware and APT use, public exploits, EPSS and severity.

No exploitation signal in the sources consulted so far.
How the score was calculated
  • EPSS 0.2% (30-day exploitation probability)+1

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.

Exploitation
Not confirmed
Not in CISA KEV — an absence of record, not proof it is unexploited.
EPSS FIRST
0.17%
ahead of 5% of scored CVEs · Oct 15, 2026
Affects
Linux
Linux
CVSS base
—
Score not published yet.

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.

  1. Identify exposed assets running the affected vendor/product/version combinations (Linux Linux).
  2. No fix documented in the sources: reduce exposure and monitor the vendor advisory.
  3. Search available logs for exploit probes, errors and authentication anomalies.

Affected scope

Vendor, product and versions as the sources word them.

VendorProductVersionsStatusSource
Linux Linux ≥ bd11ff421d36abdb585b9104fa70057bf01b3110 and < e7ff91f19c1aae039a4257fa86fe849afe185291≥ bd11ff421d36abdb585b9104fa70057bf01b3110 and < 1155234c2227cf36072a43e1e09119472ade7ca7≥ bd11ff421d36abdb585b9104fa70057bf01b3110 and < cdca92eddc025fdb90071be97738f7d55a65f8ddversion 6.16 Vulnerable CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP

Detection

Read off the CVSS vector and the weakness class. Starting points, not tested rules.

  • Not enough vector or weakness data: use the affected application’s logs as a starting point.
application logs

Timeline

What happened to this CVE, newest first.

  • 2026
  • Record published
    Oct 15, 2026
  • Affected products added · linux/linux
    Oct 15, 2026 · CVE Program (cve.org) e CISA ADP
  • Source status changed · → Received
    Oct 15, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • Record created in this database
    Oct 15, 2026 · NIST National Vulnerability Database
  • CVE published
    Sep 25, 2026 · Linux

Source activity

Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.

  • 1× Official description updated · Oct 15, 2026 – Oct 15, 2026

References

3 on the record

Elsewhere on this site

Linux
every CVE for this vendor

Related CVEs (same products)

  • CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 1d
  • CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 1d
  • CVE-2026-98431 RDMA/uverbs: Fix mmap_lock/disassociation_lock circular dependency 2d
  • CVE-2026-98430 RDMA/efa: Keep admin queues alive while IRQ is registered 2d
  • CVE-2026-98429 RDMA/efa: Keep EQ resources alive while IRQ is registered 2d
  • CVE-2026-98428 ALSA: usb: 6fire: Avoid embedded URBs 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 CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
  • 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-2026-97974 is "ipv6: null-check fib6_node before accessing in __ip6_del_rt_siblings()", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. EPSS 0.17% 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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