CVE-2026-23381
Published: March 25, 2026· Updated: Mar 25, 2026
Official Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: bridge: fix nd_tbl NULL dereference when IPv6 is disabled
When booting with the 'ipv6.disable=1' parameter, the nd_tbl is never
initialized because inet6_init() exits before ndisc_init() is called
which initializes it. Then, if neigh_suppress is enabled and an ICMPv6
Neighbor Discovery packet reaches the bridge, br_do_suppress_nd() will
dereference ipv6_stub->nd_tbl which is NULL, passing it to
neigh_lookup(). This causes a kernel NULL pointer dereference.
BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000268
Oops: 0000 [#1] PREEMPT SMP NOPTI
[...]
RIP: 0010:neigh_lookup+0x16/0xe0
[...]
Call Trace:
<IRQ>
? neigh_lookup+0x16/0xe0
br_do_suppress_nd+0x160/0x290 [bridge]
br_handle_frame_finish+0x500/0x620 [bridge]
br_handle_frame+0x353/0x440 [bridge]
__netif_receive_skb_core.constprop.0+0x298/0x1110
__netif_receive_skb_one_core+0x3d/0xa0
process_backlog+0xa0/0x140
__napi_poll+0x2c/0x170
net_rx_action+0x2c4/0x3a0
handle_softirqs+0xd0/0x270
do_softirq+0x3f/0x60
Fix this by replacing IS_ENABLED(IPV6) call with ipv6_mod_enabled() in
the callers. This is in essence disabling NS/NA suppression when IPv6 is
disabled.
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-23381 requires local access, meaning attackers must already have a foothold on the target system.
Exploitation requires some privileges, which limits the exposure to scenarios where an attacker has already gained initial access.
Affected Vendors & Products
Exploit & PoC Resources
All References (6)
Quick Facts
Recommended Actions
- →Apply vendor patches immediately
- →Monitor CVE-2026-23381 in threat intel feeds
- →Review IDS/IPS signatures for exploitation attempts