CVE-2026-23277: linux kernel vulnerability

What is known

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net/sched: teql: fix NULL pointer dereference in iptunnel_xmit on TEQL slave xmit teql_master_xmit() calls netdev_start_xmit(skb, slave) to transmit through slave devices, but does not update skb->dev to the slave device beforehand. When a gretap tunnel is a TEQL slave, the transmit path reaches iptunnel_xmit() which saves dev = skb->dev (still pointing to teql0 master) and later calls iptunnel_xmit_stats(dev, pkt_len). This function does: get_cpu_ptr(dev->tstats) Since teql_master_setup() does not set dev->pcpu_stat_type to NETDEV_PCPU_STAT_TSTATS, the core network stack never allocates tstats for teql0, so dev->tstats is NULL. get_cpu_ptr(NULL) computes NULL + __per_cpu_offset[cpu], resulting in a page fault. BUG: unable to handle page fault for address: ffff8880e6659018 #PF: supervisor write access in kernel mode #PF: error_code(0x0002) - not-present page PGD 68bc067 P4D 68bc067 PUD 0 Oops: Oops: 0002 [#1] SMP KASAN PTI RIP: 0010:iptunnel_xmit (./include/net/ip_tunnels.h:664 net/ipv4/ip_tunnel_core.c:89) Call Trace: <TASK> ip_tunnel_xmit (net/ipv4/ip_tunnel.c:847) __gre_xmit (net/ipv4/ip_gre.c:478) gre_tap_xmit (net/ipv4/ip_gre.c:779) teql_master_xmit (net/sched/sch_teql.c:319) dev_hard_start_xmit (net/core/dev.c:3887) sch_direct_xmit (net/sched/sch_generic.c:347) __dev_queue_xmit (net/core/dev.c:4802) neigh_direct_output (net/core/neighbour.c:1660) ip_finish_output2 (net/ipv4/ip_output.c:237) __ip_finish_output.part.0 (net/ipv4/ip_output.c:315) ip_mc_output (net/ipv4/ip_output.c:369) ip_send_skb (net/ipv4/ip_output.c:1508) udp_send_skb (net/ipv4/udp.c:1195) udp_sendmsg (net/ipv4/udp.c:1485) inet_sendmsg (net/ipv4/af_inet.c:859) __sys_sendto (net/socket.c:2206) Fix this by setting skb->dev = slave before calling netdev_start_xmit(), so that tunnel xmit functions see the correct slave device with properly allocated tstats.

Business impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-23277, a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.5) affecting linux kernel, may affect the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the vulnerable environment. The exact impact depends on the installed version, exposed interfaces and deployment configuration.

Recommended administrator action

Confirm whether linux kernel is present and compare installed versions with the vendor advisory and NVD record. Apply the vendor patch or documented mitigation; until remediation is complete, reduce exposure of affected interfaces, review relevant logs and monitor for indicators of exploitation. DataHouse can support version verification, managed patching, network exposure reduction, log review and backup validation for dedicated, cloud and colocated environments.

Sources

• NVD
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference
• Reference