Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:

net: bonding: fix NULL pointer dereference in bond_do_ioctl()

In bond_do_ioctl(), slave_dev is obtained via __dev_get_by_name() which
can return NULL if the requested interface name does not exist. However,
the subsequent slave_dbg() call is placed before the NULL check:

slave_dev = __dev_get_by_name(net, ifr->ifr_slave);
slave_dbg(bond_dev, slave_dev, "slave_dev=%p:\n", slave_dev); //here
if (!slave_dev)
return -ENODEV;

The slave_dbg() macro expands to netdev_dbg(bond_dev, "(slave %s): " fmt,
(slave_dev)->name, ...) which unconditionally dereferences slave_dev->name
before the NULL check is performed. This results in a NULL pointer
dereference kernel oops when a user calls bonding ioctl (e.g.
SIOCBONDENSLAVE, SIOCBONDRELEASE, etc.) with a non-existent slave
interface name.

This is reachable from userspace via the bonding ioctl interface with
CAP_NET_ADMIN capability, making it a potential local denial-of-service
vector.

Fix by moving the slave_dbg() call after the NULL check.
Published: 2026-07-01
Score: 5.5 Medium
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
AI Analysis

Impact

A occurs in the Linux bonding driver during the bond_do_ioctl() call when a debug routine accesses the name field of a slave device pointer that may be NULL. The flaw can be triggered by user‑space code that issues bonding ioctl commands with a non‑existent slave interface name, causing a kernel crash (oops) and a local denial of service. The weakness is a classic null‑pointer dereference (CWE‑476).

Affected Systems

All Linux kernel builds that include the generic bonding driver and expose the bonding ioctl interface are potentially vulnerable; the issue applies to any distribution with an unmodified driver, regardless of release version.

Risk and Exploitability

The vulnerability is reachable locally from user space via bonding ioctl commands such as SIOCBONDENSLAVE or SIOCBONDRELEASE when a non‑existent slave interface name supplied. An attacker must possess CAP_NET_ADMIN privileges, making the attack vector terrestrial and privileged. The CVSS score of 5.5 indicates moderate severity, 0.16% shows a very low exploitation probability. It is not listed in the CISA KEV catalog. The impact of a kernel crash is an immediate, complete denial of service for the affected system.

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 21, 2026 at 14:43 UTC.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

OpenCVE Recommended Actions

  • Apply a Linux kernel update that includes the commit moving the debug call after the NULL check
  • Restrict the CAP_NET_ADMIN capability to trusted users or processes only
  • If an update cannot be applied, remove or disable bonding interfaces from the system

Generated by OpenCVE AI on July 21, 2026 at 14:43 UTC.

Tracking

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Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4664-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4665-1 linux security update
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4671-1 linux-6.1 security update
History

Thu, 02 Jul 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

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'}

threat_severity

Low


Wed, 01 Jul 2026 21:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Weaknesses CWE-476

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 13:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: bonding: fix NULL pointer dereference in bond_do_ioctl() In bond_do_ioctl(), slave_dev is obtained via __dev_get_by_name() which can return NULL if the requested interface name does not exist. However, the subsequent slave_dbg() call is placed before the NULL check: slave_dev = __dev_get_by_name(net, ifr->ifr_slave); slave_dbg(bond_dev, slave_dev, "slave_dev=%p:\n", slave_dev); //here if (!slave_dev) return -ENODEV; The slave_dbg() macro expands to netdev_dbg(bond_dev, "(slave %s): " fmt, (slave_dev)->name, ...) which unconditionally dereferences slave_dev->name before the NULL check is performed. This results in a NULL pointer dereference kernel oops when a user calls bonding ioctl (e.g. SIOCBONDENSLAVE, SIOCBONDRELEASE, etc.) with a non-existent slave interface name. This is reachable from userspace via the bonding ioctl interface with CAP_NET_ADMIN capability, making it a potential local denial-of-service vector. Fix by moving the slave_dbg() call after the NULL check.
Title net: bonding: fix NULL pointer dereference in bond_do_ioctl()
First Time appeared Linux
Linux linux Kernel
CPEs cpe:2.3:o:linux:linux_kernel:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
Vendors & Products Linux
Linux linux Kernel
References

Subscriptions

Linux Linux Kernel
cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: Linux

Published:

Updated: 2026-07-01T13:32:19.046Z

Reserved: 2026-06-09T07:44:35.399Z

Link: CVE-2026-53337

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

No data.

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Low

Publid Date: 2026-07-01T00:00:00Z

Links: CVE-2026-53337 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-07-21T14:45:02Z

Weaknesses