CVE-2026-80730

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel. The ring-buffer component's cleanup routine can incorrectly attempt to stop a kernel thread using an invalid error pointer. This happens when kthread_run_on_cpu() fails, storing an error pointer in the rb_threads array. Calling kthread_stop() on this invalid pointer causes a NULL pointer dereference, leading to a kernel crash and a Denial of Service (DoS).

This vulnerability is rated as Low severity for Red Hat products because it is restricted to boot-time self-testing routines in the kernel ring buffer and requires thread creation failure to be triggered, making real-world exploitation improbable. The error condition occurs only during system initialization under severe resource constraints, such as acute memory exhaustion. Unprivileged users cannot trigger this code path during normal system operation.

The CVSS score(s) listed for this vulnerability do not reflect the associated product's status, and are included for informational purposes to better understand the severity of this vulnerability.