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

serial: core: fix NULL pointer dereference in serial_core_unregister_port()

port->port_dev is NULL when no port device is installed: it is cleared
on teardown, and never set if registration failed before
serial_core_port_device_add(). serial_core_unregister_port() passes it
straight to serial_core_get_ctrl_dev(), which dereferences it:

KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000040-0x0000000000000047]
RIP: serial_core_unregister_port
Call Trace:
serial8250_unregister_port
serial8250_remove
unbind_store

Return early when there is no port device, and read port->port_dev
under port_mutex.

Also clear port->port_dev on the serial_core_register_port() error
path, where the port device has already been removed.
Published: 2026-10-18
Score: n/a
EPSS: n/a
KEV: No
Impact: n/a
Action: n/a
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History

Sun, 18 Oct 2026 16:00:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: serial: core: fix NULL pointer dereference in serial_core_unregister_port() port->port_dev is NULL when no port device is installed: it is cleared on teardown, and never set if registration failed before serial_core_port_device_add(). serial_core_unregister_port() passes it straight to serial_core_get_ctrl_dev(), which dereferences it: KASAN: null-ptr-deref in range [0x0000000000000040-0x0000000000000047] RIP: serial_core_unregister_port Call Trace: serial8250_unregister_port serial8250_remove unbind_store Return early when there is no port device, and read port->port_dev under port_mutex. Also clear port->port_dev on the serial_core_register_port() error path, where the port device has already been removed.
Title serial: core: fix NULL pointer dereference in serial_core_unregister_port()
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: 2026-10-18T15:47:32.607Z

Reserved: 2026-09-25T10:25:14.367Z

Link: CVE-2026-98747

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Received

Published: 2026-10-18T16:17:28.460

Modified: 2026-10-18T16:17:28.460

Link: CVE-2026-98747

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.

Weaknesses

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