{"id":"CVE-2026-72373","title":"kernel: afs: Fix missing NULL pointer check in afs_break_some_callbacks() (CVE-2026-72373)","summary":"A flaw was found in the AFS (Andrew File System) component of the Linux kernel. A missing NULL pointer check in the `afs_break_some_callbacks()` function could allow a local attacker to trigger a kernel panic, leading to a denial of servic…","severity":"medium","cvss":5.5,"cvssVector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H","cvssSource":"vendor","cwe":"CWE-476","vendor":"Red Hat","product":"Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9","affected":["enterprise_linux 10","enterprise_linux 9"],"published":"2026-08-15","updated":"2026-10-16","sourceUpdated":"2026-10-16T23:14:10+00:00","source":"CSAF","sourceUrl":"https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72373.json","references":[{"url":"https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72373.json"},{"url":"https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-72373"},{"url":"https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2516245"},{"url":"https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-72373"},{"url":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-72373"},{"url":"https://lore.kernel.org/linux-cve-announce/2026081516-CVE-2026-72373-c10b@gregkh/T"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a99a617701186dc68c7b330d35fc2253f48e2ab2"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/5492799ec5d27be3bd454dcaf046bc7054f637ae"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/e3e59ff22a0de01ed0cf3a3e25558811abc3b70a"},{"url":"https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/794a01110390c1b76f59ece773fb0fbfd89c6f5c"}],"tags":["csaf","vex","red-hat","cve.org","score-dispute"],"epss":0.0063,"epssPercentile":0.49136,"ssvc":{"exploitation":"none","automatable":"yes","technicalImpact":"partial","timestamp":"2026-10-16T18:48:08.172358Z"},"scores":{"vendor":5.5,"cna":7.5},"ingestedAt":"2026-10-16T19:46:24.402Z","slug":"CVE-2026-72373","body":"## Overview\n\nA flaw was found in the AFS (Andrew File System) component of the Linux kernel. A missing NULL pointer check in the `afs_break_some_callbacks()` function could allow a local attacker to trigger a kernel panic, leading to a denial of service. This occurs when the `afs_lookup_volume_rcu()` function returns a NULL value, indicating an unknown volume.\n\n## Vendor advisories\n\n- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9 · updated 2026-10-16 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-72373.json)\n\n**kernel: afs: Fix missing NULL pointer check in afs_break_some_callbacks()** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-08-15, updated 2026-10-16.\n\nAffected:\n\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9\n\nNo fix planned:\n\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9\n\nNot affected:\n\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7\n- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8\n\n## Remediation\n\nFix deferred\n\nWorkarounds / mitigations:\n\n- Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base, or stability.","depth":"sunlit","depthScore":30,"depthScoreParts":{"impact":30.3,"likelihood":0.1,"exploitation":0,"ransomware":0},"changes":[{"seq":223637,"id":"CVE-2026-72373","ts":1792238343699,"field":"cvss","old":"7.5","new":"5.5"},{"seq":223636,"id":"CVE-2026-72373","ts":1792238343699,"field":"severity","old":"high","new":"medium"}]}