CVE-2026-97446 ACPICA: Fix NULL pointer dereference in acpi_ns_custom_package()
A NULL pointer dereference in the Linux kernel's ACPICA component allows a local attacker to cause a system crash via malicious firmware.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-97446?
CVE-2026-97446 is a vulnerability in Linux, published on 24 Sep 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:
ACPICA: Fix NULL pointer dereference in acpi_ns_custom_package()
acpi_ns_custom_package() unconditionally dereferences the first element of the package to read the _BIX version number, without checking for NULL:
if ((*Elements)->Common.Type != ACPI_TYPE_INTEGER)
When firmware returns a _BIX package whose first element is an unresolvable reference, ACPICA evaluates that entry to NULL. acpi_ns_remove_null_elements() does not strip NULL entries for ACPI_PTYPE_CUSTOM packages (fixed-position format would break if elements were shifted), so acpi_ns_custom_package() sees the NULL and causes a crash.
Add a NULL check for the first element (version field) before dereferencing it. The caller then receives AE_AML_OPERAND_TYPE instead of crashing.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-97446?
How do I fix CVE-2026-97446?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Is CVE-2026-97446 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-97446 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as AZL-103985, BELL-CVE-2026-97446, DEBIAN-CVE-2026-97446, GHSA-hqv9-j885-c7xr, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-97446.