UBUNTU-CVE-2025-71233: Null Pointer Dereference

Q: Who is realistically exposed to this issue?

Systems using an affected Ubuntu Linux kernel package and the PCI endpoint ConfigFS interface are exposed. Exploitation requires local access with sufficient privileges to create and remove function directories under /sys/kernel/config/pci_ep/functions/.

Q: What does an attacker need to do to trigger the crash?

A local attacker needs to rapidly create and remove PCI endpoint function subdirectories, causing a driver directory to be removed before asynchronous subgroup creation completes. This can dereference a NULL pointer and crash the kernel.

Q: Is this a confidentiality or integrity issue?

The provided severity vector indicates no confidentiality or integrity impact, but a high availability impact. The documented outcome is a kernel crash through a NULL pointer dereference.

Published Feb 18, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: PCI: endpoint: Avoid creating sub-groups asynchronously The asynchronous creation of sub-groups by a delayed work could lead to a NULL pointer dereference when the driver directory is removed before the work completes. The crash can be easily reproduced with the following commands: # cd /sys/kernel/config/pciep/functions/pciepftest # for i in {1..20}; do mkdir test && rmdir test; done BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000088 ... Call Trace: configfsregistergroup+0x3d/0x190 pciepfcfswork+0x41/0x110 processonework+0x18f/0x350 workerthread+0x25a/0x3a0 Fix this issue by using configfsadddefaultgroup() API which does not have the deadlock problem as configfsregistergroup() and does not require the delayed work handler. [mani: slightly reworded the description and added stable list]

Affected Software

183 affected componentsFixes available

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-azure-edge*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-gke-4.15*

ubuntu/linux-gke-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-gkeop-5.4*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-oem*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.0*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.3*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15<5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1

5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1

5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15<5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2

5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1

5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1

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<5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1

5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1

5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1

5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1

5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.10*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oem-5.6*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15<5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1

5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1

5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-186.196

5.15.0-186.196

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1112.119

5.15.0-1112.119

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<5.15.0-1117.126

5.15.0-1117.126

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<5.15.0-1117.126

5.15.0-1117.126

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<5.15.0-1112.122

5.15.0-1112.122

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<5.15.0-1108.114

5.15.0-1108.114

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1095.103

5.15.0-1095.103

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<5.15.0-1106.110

5.15.0-1106.110

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<5.15.0-1107.113

5.15.0-1107.113

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1104.109

5.15.0-1104.109

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-184.194

5.15.0-184.194

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<5.15.0-1107.108

5.15.0-1107.108

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-oem-5.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.0*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.1*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<5.15.0-1109.115

5.15.0-1109.115

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<5.15.0-1106.109

5.15.0-1106.109

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<5.15.0-1075.79

5.15.0-1075.79

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1096.98

5.15.0-1096.98

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1104.106

5.15.0-1104.106

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1111.120

5.15.0-1111.120

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<5.15.0-1112.119+fips1

5.15.0-1112.119+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1117.126+fips1

5.15.0-1117.126+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-186.196+fips1

5.15.0-186.196+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1112.122+fips1

5.15.0-1112.122+fips1

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*

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-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*

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126~20.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.122~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-186.196~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.113~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-186.196
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119
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 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126
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 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126
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 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.122
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-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1108.114
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1095.103
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 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110
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-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.113
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1104.109
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-184.194
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 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.108
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 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.115
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-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.109
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-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1075.79
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.98
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1104.106
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.120
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-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-186.196+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.122+fips1
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-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-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
Compensating control
Replace configfs_register_group() with configfs_add_default_group() to avoid the deadlock and eliminate the need for the delayed work handler.

Event History

Feb 18, 2026

CVE Published

via OSV·04:22 PM

Data Sourced

via OSV·04:22 PM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is realistically exposed to this issue?

Systems using an affected Ubuntu Linux kernel package and the PCI endpoint ConfigFS interface are exposed. Exploitation requires local access with sufficient privileges to create and remove function directories under /sys/kernel/config/pci_ep/functions/.

What does an attacker need to do to trigger the crash?

A local attacker needs to rapidly create and remove PCI endpoint function subdirectories, causing a driver directory to be removed before asynchronous subgroup creation completes. This can dereference a NULL pointer and crash the kernel.

Is this a confidentiality or integrity issue?

The provided severity vector indicates no confidentiality or integrity impact, but a high availability impact. The documented outcome is a kernel crash through a NULL pointer dereference.

UBUNTU-CVE-2025-71233: Null Pointer Dereference

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is realistically exposed to this issue?

What does an attacker need to do to trigger the crash?

Is this a confidentiality or integrity issue?

Company

Resources

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is realistically exposed to this issue?

What does an attacker need to do to trigger the crash?

Is this a confidentiality or integrity issue?