# CVE-2026-68378: dpll: fix NULL pointer dereference in dpll_msg_add_pin_ref_sync()

> A local attacker can trigger a kernel crash by unregistering shared DPLL pins, causing a NULL pointer dereference and denial of service.

- **Severity:** Not scored
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 10 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 17 Aug 2026
- **Also known as:** BELL-CVE-2026-68378, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-68378, GHSA-j7r8-gfhw-6w5q, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-68378

## What is CVE-2026-68378?

CVE-2026-68378 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 10 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

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

dpll: fix NULL pointer dereference in dpll_msg_add_pin_ref_sync()

When a dpll_pin is shared across multiple dpll_device instances and
those devices are being unregistered (e.g. during driver module removal),
a NULL pointer dereference can occur in dpll_msg_add_pin_ref_sync().

This happens under the following conditions:
 - A pin is registered with two or more dpll devices (dpll_A, dpll_B)
 - The pin has ref_sync pairs with other pins
 - During unregistration of dpll_A's pins, a ref_sync partner pin is
   unregistered first, removing it from dpll_A->pin_refs
 - But since the partner pin is still registered with dpll_B, its
   dpll_refs is not empty, so dpll_pin_ref_sync_pair_del() does NOT
   run and the partner stays in the pin's ref_sync_pins xarray
 - When the pin itself is then unregistered from dpll_A, the delete
   notification calls dpll_msg_add_pin_ref_sync() which finds the
   partner in ref_sync_pins, passes dpll_pin_available() (partner is
   still registered with dpll_B), but dpll_pin_on_dpll_priv(dpll_A,
   partner) returns NULL because partner was already removed from
   dpll_A->pin_refs
 - The NULL priv pointer is passed to the driver's ref_sync_get
   callback, which dereferences it

 BUG: kernel NULL pointer dereference, address: 0000000000000034
 Oops: Oops: 0000 [#1] SMP NOPTI
 RIP: 0010:zl3073x_dpll_input_pin_ref_sync_get+0x73/0x80 [zl3073x]
 Call Trace:
  dpll_msg_add_pin_ref_sync+0xb8/0x200
  dpll_cmd_pin_get_one+0x3b6/0x4b0
  dpll_pin_event_send+0x72/0x140
  __dpll_pin_unregister+0x5a/0x2b0
  dpll_pin_unregister+0x49/0x70

Fix this by skipping ref_sync pins whose priv pointer cannot be resolved
for the current dpll device.

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-68378?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-68378?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2026-68378 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-68378 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-68378 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-68378 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 10 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-68378 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Linux. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68378/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68378/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-68378
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-68378
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-68378

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-68378/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.