Impact
A null‑pointer dereference (CWE-1287) occurs in the Linux kernel’s Ceph client stack when a CEPH_MSG_AUTH_REPLY message contains zero values for both protocol and result during an active negotiation. The code erroneously clears the protocol, sets ops to NULL, skips protocol initialization, and later calls ac->ops->handle_reply(), leading to a kernel crash. This flaw is an incorrect security check that, when triggered, results in a denial of service caused by a kernel panic.
Affected Systems
The flaw affects Linux kernel variants that include the Ceph client subsystem. No specific kernel version is listed, so any release shipping the vulnerable code path prior to the patch may be impacted. Generic distributions with the default stock kernel are therefore potentially exposed.
Risk and Exploitability
The CVSS score of 7.5 indicates a high severity for this kernel null‑pointer dereference. The EPSS score is < 1%, showing a very low exploitation probability, and the vulnerability is not listed in CISA KEV. Based on the description, it is inferred that an attacker can trigger the flaw by sending a crafted CEPH_MSG_AUTH_REPLY message over the network from a Ceph client or manager. The risk remains significant until the patch is applied, as it can lead to an immediate kernel crash.
OpenCVE Enrichment