NULL pointer dereference in Linux kernel s390 reipl dump path
Key facts
- Attack vector
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- Privileges required
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- User interaction
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- Attack complexity
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- Impact type
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- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
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- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 7 without a fix
No CVSS vector from any source. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
The Linux kernel from 2.6.30 is affected. In the s390 IPL code, dump_reipl_run() dereferences the re-IPL parameter block without checking it, but that block is NULL for some IPL types, such as HMC FTP boot or QEMU direct kernel boot. This can cause the stand-alone dumper to enter disabled wait after completing the dump.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
Description from the CNA
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: s390/ipl: Fix NULL deref in dump_reipl without re-IPL parm block Unlike kdump, which passes the re-IPL parameter block through os_info, the stand-alone dump passes it through the IPL parm block address and checksum in lowcore. Some IPL types, like HMC FTP boot or QEMU direct kernel boot, might not provide an IPL parameter block. In this case reipl_type_init() selects IPL_TYPE_UNKNOWN and reipl_block_actual remains NULL. Nevertheless, dump_reipl_run() unconditionally dereferences it when preparing the lowcore fields. This may happen to work by chance when address zero contains readable lowcore data. A zero IPL parameter block address is then stored in lowcore, causing the stand-alone dumper to enter disabled wait after completing the dump. Explicitly store a zero IPL parameter block address and checksum when no re-IPL parameter block is available. This does not change the behavior: the stand-alone dumper completes the dump and halts, while valid re-IPL parameter blocks continue to be handled as before.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
Remediation
Upgrade the Linux kernel to 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7 or 7.3. Red Hat lists Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 as affected with no fix planned, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7, 8, 9 and 10, along with OpenShift Container Platform 4 and 5, as affected with no fix available.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-07
- Fix · CNA Linux (Linux) Fixed in 6.6.158, 6.12.111, 6.18.53, 7.2.7, 7.3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
| Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 5 | Affected | No fix yet: Fix deferred |
Timeline
- 2026-10-14 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-98399
- 2026-10-14 Alias added: GHSA-wvr7-cc68-fmx4
- 2026-10-16 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
- 2026-10-16 CVSS score added · Red Hat
- 2026-10-19 Fix available: Linux/[email protected] · CNA
- 2026-11-07 Affected versions changed · Red Hat
References
Other 5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/41647864e62b28388ecccc23a82f0e0a091f4ef2
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/aed56fa3108b7095e6a048e134981506c056a6cb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d7988e8116c3d29d9e02ca9d37ee84577643f2d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/280ff19853440d59e031cd8fe161e81305721262
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/37f61b71cbc0caefc01022a19ee56fc2510e2e6e
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Sources
- CVE-2026-98399 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-98399 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-wvr7-cc68-fmx4 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2026-98399 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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