CVE-2026-43271: md-cluster: fix NULL pointer dereference in process_metadata_update

Q: What is the severity of CVE-2026-43271?

The severity of CVE-2026-43271 is categorized as moderate due to the potential for a NULL pointer dereference leading to system instability.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2026-43271?

To fix CVE-2026-43271, update the Linux kernel to the version that includes the patch for process_metadata_update.

Q: What versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2026-43271?

CVE-2026-43271 affects various versions of the Linux kernel that utilize the md-cluster functionality.

Q: What is the impact of CVE-2026-43271?

The impact of CVE-2026-43271 is a potential system crash or instability resulting from improper handling of a NULL pointer.

Q: Who should be concerned about CVE-2026-43271?

Users and administrators running affected versions of the Linux kernel with md-cluster functionality should be concerned about CVE-2026-43271.

Published May 6, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

md-cluster: fix NULL pointer dereference in processmetadataupdate

The function processmetadataupdate() blindly dereferences the 'thread' pointer (acquired via rcudereferenceprotected) within the waitevent() macro.

While the code comment states "daemon thread must exist", there is a valid race condition window during the MD array startup sequence (mdrun):

1. bitmapload() is called, which invokes mdclusterops->join(). 2. join() starts the "clusterrecv" thread (recvdaemon). 3. At this point, recvdaemon is active and processing messages. 4. However, mddev->thread (the main MD thread) is not initialized until later in mdrun().

If a METADATAUPDATED message is received from a remote node during this specific window, processmetadataupdate() will be called while mddev->thread is still NULL, leading to a kernel panic.

To fix this, we must validate the 'thread' pointer. If it is NULL, we release the held lock (nonewdevlockres) and return early, safely ignoring the update request as the array is not yet fully ready to process it.

Affected Software

248 affected componentsFixes available

Linux Linux kernel (md-cluster)

Linux Linux kernel>=4.12<6.6.128

Linux Linux kernel>=6.7<6.12.75

Linux Linux kernel>=6.13<6.18.16

Linux Linux kernel>=6.19<6.19.6

linux/kernel>=4.12.0<6.1.191

6.1.191

linux/kernel>=6.2.0<6.6.128

6.6.128

linux/kernel>=6.7.0<6.12.75

6.12.75

linux/kernel>=6.13.0<6.18.16

6.18.16

linux/kernel>=6.19.0<6.19.6

6.19.6

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-iot*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8<6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1

6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8<6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1

6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8<6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1

6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8<6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1

6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1

6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-ibm*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8<6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1

6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8<6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1

6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8<6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8<6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1

6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8<6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1

6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8<6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1

6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-134.134

6.8.0-134.134

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1060.63

6.8.0-1060.63

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1063.71

6.8.0-1063.71

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1062.69

6.8.0-1062.69

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia<6.8.0-1039.42

6.8.0-1039.42

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1063.69

6.8.0-1063.69

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1058.64

6.8.0-1058.64

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1045.48

6.8.0-1045.48

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1060.61

6.8.0-1060.61

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-134.134.1

6.8.0-134.134.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1058.61

6.8.0-1058.61

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1058.61.1

6.8.0-1058.61.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1029.30

6.8.0-1029.30

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1057.58

6.8.0-1057.58

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1060.64

6.8.0-1060.64

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1032.33

6.8.0-1032.33

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1026.30

6.8.0-1026.30

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2049.50

6.8.0-2049.50

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1055.56

6.8.1-1055.56

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1060.63+fips1

6.8.0-1060.63+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1062.69+fips1

6.8.0-1062.69+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-134.134+fips1

6.8.0-134.134+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1063.69+fips1

6.8.0-1063.69+fips1

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-vmware*

debian/linux*

debian/linux<6.12.85-1

6.12.85-1

debian/linux<6.19.6-1

6.19.6-1

debian/linux<=6.1.176-1, <=6.1.190-1

6.12.107-16.12.116-17.2.15-17.3.4-1

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.1.191
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.6.128
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.75
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.18.16
Upgrade
Upgrade linux/Kernel to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.19.6
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.69~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.61~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134.1~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1057.58~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1055.56~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1039.42
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.69
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.64
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1045.48
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.61
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1029.30
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1057.58
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.64
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1032.33
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1026.30
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2049.50
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1055.56
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1060.63+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-134.134+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.69+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.85-1
Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.19.6-1
Upgrade
Upgrade debian/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.12.107-1Fixed in 6.12.116-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1Fixed in 7.3.4-1

Event History

May 6, 2026

CVE Published

via MITRE·11:28 AM

Data Sourced

via MITRE·11:28 AM

Description

Data Sourced

via OSV·11:28 AM

DescriptionAffected Software

Data Sourced

via NVD·12:16 PM

RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software

Nov 11, 2026

Data Sourced

via OSV·09:39 AM

Severity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2026-43271?

The severity of CVE-2026-43271 is categorized as moderate due to the potential for a NULL pointer dereference leading to system instability.

How do I fix CVE-2026-43271?

To fix CVE-2026-43271, update the Linux kernel to the version that includes the patch for process_metadata_update.

What versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2026-43271?

CVE-2026-43271 affects various versions of the Linux kernel that utilize the md-cluster functionality.

What is the impact of CVE-2026-43271?

The impact of CVE-2026-43271 is a potential system crash or instability resulting from improper handling of a NULL pointer.

Who should be concerned about CVE-2026-43271?

Users and administrators running affected versions of the Linux kernel with md-cluster functionality should be concerned about CVE-2026-43271.

CVE-2026-43271: md-cluster: fix NULL pointer dereference in process_metadata_update

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the severity of CVE-2026-43271?

How do I fix CVE-2026-43271?

What versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2026-43271?

What is the impact of CVE-2026-43271?

Who should be concerned about CVE-2026-43271?

Company

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