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CVE-2026-23433 Linux CVE debrief

CVE-2026-23433 is a MEDIUM severity vulnerability in the Linux kernel, specifically in the arm_mpam component. The vulnerability occurs when an MSC supporting memory bandwidth monitoring is brought offline and then online, causing a null pointer dereference when restoring bandwidth counters. This issue can lead to a kernel oops with a call trace. The vulnerability is resolved by providing a local variable for val to avoid the null pointer dereference. System administrators and security teams should be aware of this vulnerability and take necessary actions to mitigate the risk.

Vendor
Linux
Product
Unknown
CVSS
MEDIUM 5.5
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-04-03
Original CVE updated
2026-07-24
Advisory published
2026-04-03
Advisory updated
2026-07-24

Who should care

System administrators and security teams responsible for Linux kernel-based systems, especially those using arm_mpam, should be aware of this vulnerability and take necessary actions to mitigate the risk. This includes reviewing system configurations, monitoring system logs, and applying patches or updates provided by the Linux kernel maintainers.

Technical summary

The vulnerability is caused by the __ris_msmon_read() function being called without initializing the mbwu_arg.val variable, leading to a null pointer dereference when adding to it. The issue is resolved by providing a local variable for val to avoid the null pointer dereference. This vulnerability affects Linux kernel-based systems, specifically those using arm_mpam. The vulnerability has a MEDIUM severity and can cause a kernel oops.

Defensive priority

Apply patches or updates provided by the Linux kernel maintainers to fix the vulnerability. Review system configurations and ensure that arm_mpam is properly configured.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Apply patches or updates provided by the Linux kernel maintainers to fix the vulnerability.
  • Review system configurations and ensure that arm_mpam is properly configured.
  • Monitor system logs for potential exploitation attempts.
  • Confirm whether affected product deployments exist in managed environments and assign an owner for follow-up.
  • Review the supplied official advisory or CVE record to validate affected scope, severity, and vendor guidance.
  • Plan vendor-supported updates or mitigations through normal change control where exposure is confirmed.

Evidence notes

The CVE record was published on 2026-04-03T16:16:24.777Z and was last modified on 2026-07-24T21:10:00.143Z. The NVD entry is currently Analyzed. The vulnerability affects Linux kernel-based systems, specifically those using arm_mpam. Evidence is limited to public CVE and NVD information.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-23433 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23433

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-23433 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-23433

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/4ad79c874e53ebb7fe3b8ae7ac6c858a2121f415

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 - Patch

  • Mitigation or vendor reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ac3e12bc195786d3d44d730b5b2259fd36191848

    416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67 - Patch

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.