CVE-2026-43043: In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af-alg - fix NULL pointer dereference in scatterwalk The AF_ALG interfac...

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af-alg - fix NULL pointer dereference in scatterwalk The AF_ALG interface fails to unmark the end of a Scatter/Gather List (SGL) when chaining a new af_alg_tsgl structure. If a sendmsg() fills an SGL exactly to MAX_SGL_ENTS, the last entry is marked as the end. A subsequent sendmsg() allocates a new SGL and chains it, but fails to clear the end marker on the previous SGL's last data entry. This causes the crypto scatterwalk to hit a premature end, returning NULL on sg_next() and leading to a kernel panic during dereference. Fix this by explicitly unmarking the end of the previous SGL when performing sg_chain() in af_alg_alloc_tsgl().

Metrics

CVSS 3.1

5.5/10

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

EPSS Probability

0.11%

1.8th percentile

Probability of exploitation in the next 30 days. Learn more

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-476

Affected Software

Vendor	Product	Versions	Update
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 2.6.38, < 5.10.253	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.11, < 5.15.203	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 5.16, < 6.1.168	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.2, < 6.6.134	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.7, < 6.12.81	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.13, < 6.18.22	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	>= 6.19, < 6.19.12	—
Linux	Linux Kernel	7.0	Rc1

References

Timeline

Published: May 1, 2026
Last Modified: Jun 17, 2026
Status: Analyzed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-43043?

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: af-alg - fix NULL pointer dereference in scatterwalk The AF_ALG interface fails to unmark the end of a Scatter/Gather List (SGL) when chaining a new af_alg_tsgl structure. If a sendmsg() fills an SGL exactly to MAX_SGL_ENTS, the last entry is marked as the end. A subsequent sendmsg() allocates a new SGL and chains it, but fails to clear the end marker on the previous SGL's last data entry. This causes the crypto scatterwalk to hit a premature end, returning NULL on sg_next() and leading to a kernel panic during dereference. Fix this by explicitly unmarking the end of the previous SGL when performing sg_chain() in af_alg_alloc_tsgl().

How severe is CVE-2026-43043?

CVE-2026-43043 has a CVSS score of 5.5/10 (MEDIUM severity). The EPSS model estimates a 0.11% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

How do I fix CVE-2026-43043?

Check the vendor references and advisories linked above for patched versions and mitigation guidance. You can also run a Strix scan to test if your systems are affected.