CVE-2026-43272: ring-buffer: Fix possible dereference of uninitialized pointer
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
ring-buffer: Fix possible dereference of uninitialized pointer
There is a pointer headpage in rbmetavalidateevents() which is not initialized at the beginning of a function. This pointer can be dereferenced if there is a failure during reader page validation. In this case the control is passed to "invalid" label where the pointer is dereferenced in a loop.
To fix the issue initialize orighead and headpage before calling rbvalidatebuffer.
Found by Linux Verification Center (linuxtesting.org) with SVACE.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.12.115-2 - Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.19.6-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/linuxto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 6.1.176-1Fixed in 6.1.190-1Fixed in 6.12.116-1Fixed in 7.2.15-1Fixed in 7.3.3-1
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2026-43272?
CVE-2026-43272 has a medium severity rating due to the potential dereference of an uninitialized pointer in the Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2026-43272?
To resolve CVE-2026-43272, update your Linux kernel to the version that includes the fix for this vulnerability.
Which versions of the Linux kernel are affected by CVE-2026-43272?
CVE-2026-43272 affects certain versions of the Linux kernel that have not implemented the patch addressing this vulnerability.
What types of attacks can exploit CVE-2026-43272?
Exploitation of CVE-2026-43272 could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges or cause a denial of service by dereferencing an uninitialized pointer.
Is there a workaround for CVE-2026-43272 if I cannot update my Linux kernel?
Currently, there are no known workarounds for CVE-2026-43272, so updating to a fixed version is highly recommended.