UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72013: Null Pointer Dereference

Published Aug 15, 2026

Updated

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: riscv: Prevent NULL pointer dereference in machinekexecprepare() A NULL pointer dereference issue is noticed in riscv's machinekexecprepare(), where image->segment[i].buf might be NULL and copied unchecked. The NULL buf comes from imaaddkexecbuffer(), where kbuf is added by kexecaddbuffer(), but kbuf.buffer is NULL, then it is copied without a check in machinekexecprepare(): kexecfileload -> kimagefileallocinit() -> kimagefilepreparesegments() -> imaaddkexecbuffer() -> kexecaddbuffer() -> machinekexecprepare() -> memcpy() Address this by adding a check before the data copy attempt.

Affected Software

200 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<5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1

5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15<5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1

5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15<5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1

5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15<5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1

5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1

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<5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1

5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15<5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1

5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-intel-5.13*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15<5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1

5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15<5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1

5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra-5.15*

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<5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1

5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi2*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.11*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15<5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1

5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.8*

ubuntu/linux<5.15.0-198.208

5.15.0-198.208

ubuntu/linux-allwinner-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws<5.15.0-1117.124

5.15.0-1117.124

ubuntu/linux-aws-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure<5.15.0-1123.132

5.15.0-1123.132

ubuntu/linux-azure-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<5.15.0-1122.131

5.15.0-1122.131

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<5.15.0-1118.128

5.15.0-1118.128

ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-gke<5.15.0-1113.119

5.15.0-1113.119

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<5.15.0-1100.108

5.15.0-1100.108

ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-ibm<5.15.0-1111.115

5.15.0-1111.115

ubuntu/linux-ibm-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg<5.15.0-1112.118

5.15.0-1112.118

ubuntu/linux-kvm<5.15.0-1109.114

5.15.0-1109.114

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<5.15.0-195.205

5.15.0-195.205

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia<5.15.0-1112.113

5.15.0-1112.113

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.8*

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<5.15.0-1114.120

5.15.0-1114.120

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-5.19*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.2*

ubuntu/linux-starfive-6.5*

ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp<5.15.0-1080.84

5.15.0-1080.84

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<5.15.0-1101.103

5.15.0-1101.103

ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime<5.15.0-1109.111

5.15.0-1109.111

ubuntu/linux-realtime<5.15.0-1116.125

5.15.0-1116.125

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips*

ubuntu/linux-fips*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<5.15.0-1117.124+fips1

5.15.0-1117.124+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<5.15.0-1123.132+fips1

5.15.0-1123.132+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<5.15.0-198.208+fips1

5.15.0-198.208+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<5.15.0-1118.128+fips1

5.15.0-1118.128+fips1

ubuntu/linux<6.8.0-147.147

6.8.0-147.147

ubuntu/linux-aws<6.8.0-1067.70

6.8.0-1067.70

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-aws-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1

7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure<6.8.0-1071.79

6.8.0-1071.79

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0<7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1

7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<6.8.0-1069.76

6.8.0-1069.76

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0<7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1

7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-azure-nvidia-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp<6.8.0-1071.79

6.8.0-1071.79

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0<7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1

7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-gke<6.8.0-1066.74

6.8.0-1066.74

ubuntu/linux-gkeop<6.8.0-1052.56

6.8.0-1052.56

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0<7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4

7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4

ubuntu/linux-ibm<6.8.0-1067.68

6.8.0-1067.68

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency<6.8.0-147.147.1

6.8.0-147.147.1

ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-7.0*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-lowlatency*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-tegra*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.11*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oem-6.8*

ubuntu/linux-oracle<6.8.0-1064.67

6.8.0-1064.67

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0<7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1

7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-riscv*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0<7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1

7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1

ubuntu/linux-xilinx*

ubuntu/linux-bluefield<6.8.0-1033.38

6.8.0-1033.38

ubuntu/linux-raspi-realtime*

ubuntu/linux-realtime<6.8.1-1062.63

6.8.1-1062.63

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.14*

ubuntu/linux-realtime-6.17*

ubuntu/linux-aws-fips<6.8.0-1067.70+fips1

6.8.0-1067.70+fips1

ubuntu/linux-azure-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1

6.8.0-1071.79+fips1

ubuntu/linux-fips<6.8.0-147.147+fips1

6.8.0-147.147+fips1

ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips<6.8.0-1071.79+fips1

6.8.0-1071.79+fips1

ubuntu/linux<7.0.0-38.38

7.0.0-38.38

ubuntu/linux-aws<7.0.0-1014.14

7.0.0-1014.14

ubuntu/linux-azure<7.0.0-1017.17

7.0.0-1017.17

ubuntu/linux-azure-fde<7.0.0-1016.16

7.0.0-1016.16

ubuntu/linux-gcp<7.0.0-1014.14

7.0.0-1014.14

ubuntu/linux-gke<7.0.0-1008.9

7.0.0-1008.9

ubuntu/linux-ibm<7.0.0-1015.15

7.0.0-1015.15

ubuntu/linux-nvidia*

ubuntu/linux-nvidia-bos*

ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0<7.0.0-1015.15

7.0.0-1015.15

ubuntu/linux-oracle<7.0.0-1013.13

7.0.0-1013.13

ubuntu/linux-raspi*

ubuntu/linux-realtime<7.0.0-38.38.1

7.0.0-38.38.1

ubuntu/linux-riscv<7.0.0-38.38.1

7.0.0-38.38.1

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 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency-hwe-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-5.15 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115~20.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1122.131
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1113.119
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1100.108
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1111.115
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iotg to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.118
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-kvm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.114
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-195.205
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-nvidia to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1112.113
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1114.120
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-xilinx-zynqmp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1080.84
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1101.103
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-intel-iot-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1109.111
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1116.125
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1123.132+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-198.208+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 5.15.0-1118.128+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1069.76
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1066.74
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gkeop to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1052.56
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-hwe-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38~24.04.4
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.68
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-lowlatency to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1064.67
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1~24.04.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-bluefield to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1033.38
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.1-1062.63
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1067.70+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-147.147+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp-fips to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 6.8.0-1071.79+fips1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-aws to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1017.17
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-azure-fde to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1016.16
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gcp to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1014.14
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-gke to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1008.9
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-ibm to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oem-7.0 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1015.15
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-oracle to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-1013.13
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-realtime to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
Upgrade
Upgrade ubuntu/linux-riscv to a version that resolves this vulnerability.
Fixed in 7.0.0-38.38.1
Compensating control
In riscv's machine_kexec_prepare(), add a NULL check for image->segment[i].buf before attempting the data copy with memcpy().

Event History

Aug 15, 2026

CVE Published

via OSV·06:21 AM

Data Sourced

via OSV·06:21 AM

DescriptionSeverityAffected Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

The issue affects the listed Ubuntu Linux kernel packages, including linux, linux-realtime, linux-azure, linux-gcp, linux-azure-fde, linux-gke, linux-riscv, and linux-gkeop. The vulnerable code is in the RISC-V kexec preparation path.

What is required to trigger the NULL pointer dereference?

The kexec file-loading path must reach machine_kexec_prepare() with an image segment whose buf pointer is NULL. The described path involves IMA adding a kexec buffer with a NULL buffer pointer, followed by an unchecked memcpy().

What happens when the issue is triggered?

The kernel attempts to copy from a NULL segment buffer in machine_kexec_prepare(), causing a NULL pointer dereference. The provided information does not state any impact beyond that dereference.

UBUNTU-CVE-2026-72013: Null Pointer Dereference

Affected Software

Remediation

Event History

Frequently Asked Questions

Which systems are exposed to this issue?

What is required to trigger the NULL pointer dereference?

What happens when the issue is triggered?

Company

Resources

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