CVE-2026-23206

dpaa2-switch: prevent ZERO_SIZE_PTR dereference when num_ifs is zero

Published Feb 14, 2026 CVSS 3.1 · 5.5 Medium EPSS < 1% KEV · Not listed
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

dpaa2-switch: prevent ZERO_SIZE_PTR dereference when num_ifs is zero

The driver allocates arrays for ports, FDBs, and filter blocks using
kcalloc() with ethsw->sw_attr.num_ifs as the element count. When the
device reports zero interfaces (either due to hardware configuration
or firmware issues), kcalloc(0, ...) returns ZERO_SIZE_PTR (0x10)
instead of NULL.

Later in dpaa2_switch_probe(), the NAPI initialization unconditionally
accesses ethsw->ports[0]->netdev, which attempts to dereference
ZERO_SIZE_PTR (address 0x10), resulting in a kernel panic.

Add a check to ensure num_ifs is greater than zero after retrieving
device attributes. This prevents the zero-sized allocations and
subsequent invalid pointer dereference.

Remediation

No solution or workaround provided in the CVE record

Tracking

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Advisories

Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4499-1 linux-6.1 security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6141-1 linux security update
Debian DSA Debian DSA DSA-6163-1 linux security update
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8278-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8289-1 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8296-1 Linux kernel (FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8296-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA Tegra) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8278-2 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8440-1 Linux kernel (Azure) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8493-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8493-2 Linux kernel (Oracle) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8499-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8527-1 Linux kernel (Raspberry Pi) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8528-1 Linux kernel (Xilinx ZynqMP) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8547-1 Linux kernel vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8547-2 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8289-2 Linux kernel (NVIDIA) vulnerabilities
Ubuntu USN Ubuntu USN USN-8393-1 Linux kernel (Azure FIPS) vulnerabilities
History
Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'partial'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc4:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc5:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc6:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc7:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:6.19:rc8:*:*:*:*:*:*
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

cvssV3_1

{'score': 5.5, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'}

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.0, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H'}

threat_severity

Important

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: dpaa2-switch: prevent ZERO_SIZE_PTR dereference when num_ifs is zero The driver allocates arrays for ports, FDBs, and filter blocks using kcalloc() with ethsw->sw_attr.num_ifs as the element count. When the device reports zero interfaces (either due to hardware configuration or firmware issues), kcalloc(0, ...) returns ZERO_SIZE_PTR (0x10) instead of NULL. Later in dpaa2_switch_probe(), the NAPI initialization unconditionally accesses ethsw->ports[0]->netdev, which attempts to dereference ZERO_SIZE_PTR (address 0x10), resulting in a kernel panic. Add a check to ensure num_ifs is greater than zero after retrieving device attributes. This prevents the zero-sized allocations and subsequent invalid pointer dereference.
Title dpaa2-switch: prevent ZERO_SIZE_PTR dereference when num_ifs is zero
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References
Weaknesses

Sources

Status
PUBLISHED
Assigner
Linux
Published
Updated
Nov 5, 2026, 9:23 PM
Reserved
Jan 13, 2026, 3:37 PM
Status
Analyzed
Published
Feb 14, 2026, 5:15 PM
Modified
Nov 5, 2026, 10:18 PM
Severity
Important
Public date
Feb 14, 2026, 12:00 AM