---
id: CVE-2026-98747
title: >-
  kernel: serial: core: fix NULL pointer dereference in
  serial_core_unregister_port() (CVE-2026-98747)
summary: >-
  A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's serial core subsystem. This flaw allows
  a local user with administrative access to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by
  crashing the system. The issue occurs during the unregistration of a serial
  port t…
severity: medium
cvss: 4.4
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H'
cvssSource: vendor
cwe: CWE-476
vendor: Red Hat
product: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
affected:
  - enterprise_linux 10
  - enterprise_linux 9
  - openshift_container_platform 4
published: '2026-10-18'
updated: '2026-10-23'
sourceUpdated: '2026-10-23T03:39:44+00:00'
source: CSAF
sourceUrl: 'https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98747.json'
references:
  - url: >-
      https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98747.json
  - url: 'https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-98747'
  - url: 'https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2555181'
  - url: 'https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-98747'
  - url: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-98747'
  - url: >-
      https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/security/vulns.git/plain/cve/published/2026/CVE-2026-98747.mbox
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/54abbb862366dcaf1f22f1e968358147b7d0547d'
  - url: 'https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/499485a67fbacf4d9afbdb43522388c64f853428'
tags:
  - csaf
  - vex
  - red-hat
  - cve.org
epss: 0.00155
epssPercentile: 0.0462
ingestedAt: '2026-10-18T16:47:32.501Z'
---

## Overview

A flaw was found in the Linux kernel's serial core subsystem. This flaw allows a local user with administrative access to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by crashing the system. The issue occurs during the unregistration of a serial port that failed during initial setup or was previously torn down, causing the kernel to improperly access an empty memory address (NULL pointer dereference). This invalid access triggers a kernel crash, disrupting system availability.

## Vendor advisories

- **Red Hat VEX** · Moderate · affected: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · no fix planned: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4 · updated 2026-10-23 · [vex](https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2026/cve-2026-98747.json)

**kernel: serial: core: fix NULL pointer dereference in serial_core_unregister_port()** — rated Moderate by Red Hat. Released 2026-10-18, updated 2026-10-23.

Affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

No fix planned:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 10
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

Not affected:

- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9
- Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform 4

## Remediation

Fix deferred