CVE-2026-98400 — s390/ipl: Fix NULL deref in kdump without re-IPL parm block
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/ipl: Fix NULL deref in kdump without re-IPL parm block Some IPL types, like HMC FTP boot or QEMU direct kernel boot, might not provide an IPL parameter block. In this case, reipl_type_init() selects IPL_TYPE_UNKNOWN, and reipl_block_actual remains NULL. kdump passes the re-IPL parameter block to the dump kernel through os_info. Before commit 3b9678472bab ("s390/ipl: correct kdump reipl block checksum calculation"), the os_info entry was added only for IPL types which initialized reipl_block_actual. That commit moved the os_info update to machine_crash_shutdown(), making it unconditional. As a result, set_os_info_reipl_block() dereferences reipl_block_actual for IPL_TYPE_UNKNOWN. This may happen to work by chance when address zero contains readable lowcore data and the resulting empty os_info entry is ignored by the dump kernel. Skip the os_info update when no re-IPL parameter block is available. Kdump then collect the dump and reboot without setting re-IPL parameter block.
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
- No scoring signals.
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).
- 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 | ≥ 3b9678472bab86ae654cf2c18d5dd551558045be and < 030e88812435fc5d6aa42eee41fa77b5ea620327≥ 3b9678472bab86ae654cf2c18d5dd551558045be and < 92d0829eae257544b6b0faccb6e7079c45e22d48≥ 3b9678472bab86ae654cf2c18d5dd551558045be and < 50f9c40768e84f30d374235b3ee3850a94d9ac29≥ 3b9678472bab86ae654cf2c18d5dd551558045be and < b6bf82bc5e00afaf836f8bb9a676bffc182a6bbd≥ 3b9678472bab86ae654cf2c18d5dd551558045be and < 7f918871112e8e7c581e99eb8e545af4e59c8367version 4.17 | 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.
Timeline
What happened to this CVE, newest first.
- 2026
- Record published
- Affected products added · linux/linux
- Source status changed · → Received
- Record created in this database
- CVE published
Source activity
Repeated readings are counted rather than listed.
- 1× References added · Oct 14, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026
- 1× Official description updated · Oct 14, 2026 – Oct 14, 2026
References
5 on the record
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/50f9c40768e84f30d374235b3ee3850a94d9ac29
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6bf82bc5e00afaf836f8bb9a676bffc182a6bbd
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/7f918871112e8e7c581e99eb8e545af4e59c8367
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/030e88812435fc5d6aa42eee41fa77b5ea620327
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/92d0829eae257544b6b0faccb6e7079c45e22d48
Elsewhere on this site
Related CVEs (same products)
- Critical CVE-2026-99999 ipv4: validate checksum_start before completing checksum 9h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98432 ipv4: free inet_opt and ireq_opt after an RCU grace period 9h
- Unknown CVE-2026-98427 net/sched: codel: bound the dropping loop per dequeue call 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98429 RDMA/efa: Keep EQ resources alive while IRQ is registered 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98428 ALSA: usb: 6fire: Avoid embedded URBs 1d
- Unknown CVE-2026-98430 RDMA/efa: Keep admin queues alive while IRQ is registered 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 CVSS score published by NVD, the CNA, CISA or GitHub so far.
- No FIRST EPSS score.
- 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-2026-98400 is "s390/ipl: Fix NULL deref in kdump without re-IPL parm block", rated Unknown. It affects Linux (Linux); versions are in the scope table. It is not in CISA KEV, which does not rule out exploitation. 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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