UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23398: Null Pointer Dereference

Q: Which systems are exposed to this issue?

Systems using the listed Ubuntu Linux kernel packages are exposed only when hardened PMTU mode is enabled by setting ip_no_pmtu_disc to 3. The triggering traffic is an ICMP Fragmentation Needed message whose quoted inner IP header specifies an unregistered IP protocol number.

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

An attacker needs to be able to send crafted network traffic to the target. No authentication, local access, or user interaction is indicated; the crafted ICMP error must contain the required quoted inner IP header.

Q: What is the impact if exploitation succeeds?

The kernel can NULL-dereference in softirq context and panic, causing a denial of service. The provided impact information indicates availability impact only, with no confidentiality or integrity impact.

Q: How can I determine whether a host may already be affected?

Check whether ip_no_pmtu_disc is configured as 3 and review kernel logs for a NULL pointer dereference or general protection fault involving icmp_tag_validation(), icmp_unreach(), or ICMP receive processing. A successful trigger results in a kernel panic.

Q: What can be done if an updated kernel cannot be deployed immediately?

Avoid using hardened PMTU mode with ip_no_pmtu_disc set to 3, since that setting is required for the described crash path. This does not replace applying the resolved kernel update when available.

Published Mar 26, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: icmp: fix NULL pointer dereference in icmptagvalidation() icmptagvalidation() unconditionally dereferences the result of rcudereference(inetprotos[proto]) without checking for NULL. The inetprotos[] array is sparse -- only about 15 of 256 protocol numbers have registered handlers. When ipnopmtudisc is set to 3 (hardened PMTU mode) and the kernel receives an ICMP Fragmentation Needed error with a quoted inner IP header containing an unregistered protocol number, the NULL dereference causes a kernel panic in softirq context. Oops: general protection fault, probably for non-canonical address 0xdffffc0000000002: 0000 [#1] SMP KASAN NOPTI KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000010-0x0000000000000017] RIP: 0010:icmpunreach (net/ipv4/icmp.c:1085 net/ipv4/icmp.c:1143) Call Trace: <IRQ> icmprcv (net/ipv4/icmp.c:1527) ipprotocoldeliverrcu (net/ipv4/ipinput.c:207) iplocaldeliverfinish (net/ipv4/ipinput.c:242) iplocaldeliver (net/ipv4/ipinput.c:262) iprcv (net/ipv4/ipinput.c:573) netifreceiveskbonecore (net/core/dev.c:6164) processbacklog (net/core/dev.c:6628) handlesoftirqs (kernel/softirq.c:561) </IRQ> Add a NULL check before accessing icmpstricttagvalidation. If the protocol has no registered handler, return false since it cannot perform strict tag validation.

Affected Software

240 affected componentsFixes available

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-lts-xenial*

ubuntu/linux*

ubuntu/linux-aws*

ubuntu/linux-aws-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

ubuntu/linux-hwe*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-edge*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

ubuntu/linux-oracle*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

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<5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1

5.15.0-1112.119~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure*

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-bluefield*

ubuntu/linux-gcp*

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*

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-iot*

ubuntu/linux-kvm*

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

5.15.0-184.194~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15<5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1

5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1

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<5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1

5.15.0-1109.115~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

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-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<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<6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1

6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1

6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1

6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1

6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1

6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<5.15.0-1064.66

5.15.0-1064.66

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx<5.15.0-1053.53

5.15.0-1053.53

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<6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1

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<6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3

6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3

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<6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2

6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2

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<6.8.0-136.136

6.8.0-136.136

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1061.64

6.8.0-1061.64

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<6.8.0-1064.72

6.8.0-1064.72

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1059.67

6.8.0-1059.67

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1046.50

6.8.0-1046.50

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1061.62

6.8.0-1061.62

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-136.136.2

6.8.0-136.136.2

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<6.8.0-1059.62

6.8.0-1059.62

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency<6.8.0-1059.62.1

6.8.0-1059.62.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra<6.8.0-1030.31

6.8.0-1030.31

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1058.61

6.8.0-1058.61

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-raspi<6.8.0-1061.65

6.8.0-1061.65

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx<6.8.0-1033.34

6.8.0-1033.34

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1028.33

6.8.0-1028.33

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime<6.8.0-2050.52

6.8.0-2050.52

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1056.57

6.8.1-1056.57

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1061.64+fips1

6.8.0-1061.64+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1063.71+fips2

6.8.0-1063.71+fips2

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-136.136+fips2

6.8.0-136.136+fips2

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1064.72+fips1

6.8.0-1064.72+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
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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
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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-nvidia-tegra-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1064.66~20.04.1
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 6.8.0-1061.64~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126
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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
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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 6.8.0-1064.72~22.04.1
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Fixed in 5.15.0-1108.114
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1095.103
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.1
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Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.110
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62~22.04.1
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 6.8.0-136.136.2~22.04.1
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1107.108
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62~22.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1064.66
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-igx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1053.53
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Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.115
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Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61~22.04.1
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Fixed in 5.15.0-1106.109
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Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136~22.04.3
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1075.79
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Fixed in 5.15.0-1096.98
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1104.106
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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 6.8.1-1056.57~22.04.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.119+fips1
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.126+fips1
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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 6.8.0-136.136
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1062.69
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.67
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1046.50
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.62
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136.2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1059.62.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1030.31
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1058.61
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.65
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.34
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1028.33
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-2050.52
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1056.57
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1061.64+fips1
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Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1063.71+fips2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-136.136+fips2
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.72+fips1
Compensating control
In icmp_tag_validation(), check whether rcu_dereference(inet_protos[proto]) is NULL before accessing icmp_strict_tag_validation; return false when the protocol has no registered handler.

Event History

Mar 26, 2026

CVE Published

via OSV·11:16 AM

Data Sourced

via OSV·11:16 AM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

Systems using the listed Ubuntu Linux kernel packages are exposed only when hardened PMTU mode is enabled by setting ip_no_pmtu_disc to 3. The triggering traffic is an ICMP Fragmentation Needed message whose quoted inner IP header specifies an unregistered IP protocol number.

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

An attacker needs to be able to send crafted network traffic to the target. No authentication, local access, or user interaction is indicated; the crafted ICMP error must contain the required quoted inner IP header.

What is the impact if exploitation succeeds?

The kernel can NULL-dereference in softirq context and panic, causing a denial of service. The provided impact information indicates availability impact only, with no confidentiality or integrity impact.

How can I determine whether a host may already be affected?

Check whether ip_no_pmtu_disc is configured as 3 and review kernel logs for a NULL pointer dereference or general protection fault involving icmp_tag_validation(), icmp_unreach(), or ICMP receive processing. A successful trigger results in a kernel panic.

What can be done if an updated kernel cannot be deployed immediately?

Avoid using hardened PMTU mode with ip_no_pmtu_disc set to 3, since that setting is required for the described crash path. This does not replace applying the resolved kernel update when available.

UBUNTU-CVE-2026-23398: Null Pointer Dereference

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

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

What is the impact if exploitation succeeds?

How can I determine whether a host may already be affected?

What can be done if an updated kernel cannot be deployed immediately?

Company

Resources

Contact

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

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

What is the impact if exploitation succeeds?

How can I determine whether a host may already be affected?

What can be done if an updated kernel cannot be deployed immediately?