CVE-2024-26731: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, sockmap: Fix NULL pointer dereference in sk_psock_verdict_data

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, sockmap: Fix NULL pointer dereference in sk_psock_verdict_data_ready() syzbot reporte

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: bpf, sockmap: Fix NULL pointer dereference in sk_psock_verdict_data_ready() syzbot reported the following NULL pointer dereference issue [1]: BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000000 [...] RIP: 0010:0x0 [...] Call Trace: <TASK> sk_psock_verdict_data_ready+0x232/0x340 net/core/skmsg.c:1230 unix_stream_sendmsg+0x9b4/0x1230 net/unix/af_unix.c:2293 sock_sendmsg_nosec net/socket.c:730 [inline] __sock_sendmsg+0x221/0x270 net/socket.c:745 ____sys_sendmsg+0x525/0x7d0 net/socket.c:2584 ___sys_sendmsg net/socket.c:2638 [inline] __sys_sendmsg+0x2b0/0x3a0 net/socket.c:2667 do_syscall_64+0xf9/0x240 entry_SYSCALL_64_after_hwframe+0x6f/0x77 If sk_psock_verdict_data_ready() and sk_psock_stop_verdict() are called concurrently, psock->saved_data_ready can be NULL, causing the above issue. This patch fixes this issue by calling the appropriate data ready function using the sk_psock_data_ready() helper and protecting it from concurrency with sk->sk_callback_lock.

Description from the National Vulnerability Database, published by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67

What it means for a small business

Linux is on the computers, phones or browsers your team uses every day. Turn on automatic updates and restart: most of these fixes only take effect after a restart.

How likely is an attack? The Exploit Prediction Scoring System, run by FIRST (the global association of security response teams), puts the odds of this one being exploited in the next 30 days at 0.83%, higher than 57% of CVEs. That’s low, but low isn’t zero, and the odds jump the day someone publishes an exploit. Scored October 29, 2026, updated daily.

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Sources

Part of the Huttenlocher Technologies vulnerability database, refreshed twice a day from CISA and the NVD. The title, category and plain-language guidance are ours; check the linked record before acting on a detail. This is general guidance, not a review of your systems.

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