CVE-2026-22983
net: do not write to msg_get_inq in callee
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: do not write to msg_get_inq in callee NULL pointer dereference fix. msg_get_inq is an input field from caller to callee. Don't set it in the callee, as the caller may not clear it on struct reuse. This is a kernel-internal variant of msghdr only, and the only user does reinitialize the field. So this is not critical for that reason. But it is more robust to avoid the write, and slightly simpler code. And it fixes a bug, see below. Callers set msg_get_inq to request the input queue length to be returned in msg_inq. This is equivalent to but independent from the SO_INQ request to return that same info as a cmsg (tp->recvmsg_inq). To reduce branching in the hot path the second also sets the msg_inq. That is WAI. This is a fix to commit 4d1442979e4a ("af_unix: don't post cmsg for SO_INQ unless explicitly asked for"), which fixed the inverse. Also avoid NULL pointer dereference in unix_stream_read_generic if state->msg is NULL and msg->msg_get_inq is written. A NULL state->msg can happen when splicing as of commit 2b514574f7e8 ("net: af_unix: implement splice for stream af_unix sockets"). Also collapse two branches using a bitwise or.
INFO
Published Date :
Jan. 23, 2026, 4:15 p.m.
Last Modified :
Jan. 23, 2026, 4:15 p.m.
Remotely Exploit :
No
Source :
416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Affected Products
The following products are affected by CVE-2026-22983
vulnerability.
Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the
products
that
are
affected, the information is not represented in the table below.
No affected product recoded yet
Solution
- Update the Linux kernel to the latest version.
- Verify that the patch for 'net: do not write to msg_get_inq in callee' is applied.
- Review code for potential NULL pointer dereferences.
- Test system stability after applying updates.
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools
Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth
information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to
CVE-2026-22983.
| URL | Resource |
|---|---|
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d11e047eda5f98514ae62507065ac961981c025 | |
| https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ffa2be496ef65055b28b39c6bd9a7d66943ee89a |
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration
While CVE identifies
specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or
weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2026-22983 is
associated with the following CWEs:
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)
Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification
(CAPEC)
stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and
approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2026-22983
weaknesses.
We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).
Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.
The following list is the news that have been mention
CVE-2026-22983 vulnerability anywhere in the article.
The following table lists the changes that have been made to the
CVE-2026-22983 vulnerability over time.
Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.
-
New CVE Received by 416baaa9-dc9f-4396-8d5f-8c081fb06d67
Jan. 23, 2026
Action Type Old Value New Value Added Description In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: do not write to msg_get_inq in callee NULL pointer dereference fix. msg_get_inq is an input field from caller to callee. Don't set it in the callee, as the caller may not clear it on struct reuse. This is a kernel-internal variant of msghdr only, and the only user does reinitialize the field. So this is not critical for that reason. But it is more robust to avoid the write, and slightly simpler code. And it fixes a bug, see below. Callers set msg_get_inq to request the input queue length to be returned in msg_inq. This is equivalent to but independent from the SO_INQ request to return that same info as a cmsg (tp->recvmsg_inq). To reduce branching in the hot path the second also sets the msg_inq. That is WAI. This is a fix to commit 4d1442979e4a ("af_unix: don't post cmsg for SO_INQ unless explicitly asked for"), which fixed the inverse. Also avoid NULL pointer dereference in unix_stream_read_generic if state->msg is NULL and msg->msg_get_inq is written. A NULL state->msg can happen when splicing as of commit 2b514574f7e8 ("net: af_unix: implement splice for stream af_unix sockets"). Also collapse two branches using a bitwise or. Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/7d11e047eda5f98514ae62507065ac961981c025 Added Reference https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/ffa2be496ef65055b28b39c6bd9a7d66943ee89a