NULL pointer dereference in Zephyr Dhara FTL disk driver on flash read error during journal resume
zephyrproject · zephyr
Official source article: GitHub GHSA-Q28V-3729-F82G ↗. Check the applicable product and release in the original source.
4.7MediumCVSS 3.1
Recommended action
Within 7 days
Medium technical severity with public exploit material referenced by a structured source; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Published severityMedium→Operational priority:Medium, unchanged from published severity.unchanged
Evidence used
No CISA KEV confirmation is currently recorded.
A structured source references public exploit or proof-of-concept material.
Exploitation requires an existing local or physical foothold with privileges.
EPSS is 0.13% for the current model date.
Compensating controls
Validate the affected product branch and deploy the verified fixed release.
Restrict local access and enforce least privilege on affected hosts.
Increase monitoring for the attack path and post-exploitation behaviour described in the report.
Verification
Confirm that the asset runs zephyrproject zephyr and falls inside the recorded affected range.
Verify the installed build against the product-specific fixed version after deployment.
Validate exposure, authentication requirements and compensating controls in the actual environment.
Reopen this reassessment when CVSS, KEV, EPSS, exploit evidence or remediation changes.
Optional official sources
National CERT insights ?CERT means Computer Emergency Response Team; CSIRT is the closely related term Computer Security Incident Response Team.
Choose official national sources for this report. Each advisory shows its original language. Your selection is remembered on this device and included in shared links.
Official European source
ENISA European Vulnerability Database
Official EUVD identifiers, advisory evidence and known-exploited context. Missing fields are not treated as evidence of low risk.
1 current
ENISA EUVD identifier
EUVD-2026-42037
No EUVD known-exploited evidence
The Dhara flash translation layer disk driver (drivers/disk/ftl_dhara.c) implemented the dhara_nand_ callbacks so that, on a flash error, the error code was written unconditionally through the caller-supplied dhara_error_t err pointer (e.g. *err = DHARA_E_ECC in dhara_nand_read, and similar in dhara_nand_erase/prog/copy).
The upstream Dhara library calls these callbacks with err == NULL along its journal-resume binary search: find_last_checkblock() invokes find_checkblock(j, mid, &found, NULL), which forwards the NULL pointer into dhara_nand_read(). This path runs during disk_ftl_access_init() -> dhara_map_resume() whenever the FTL disk is mounted/initialised.
If a flash read error (uncorrectable ECC, bad block, controller error) occurs on one of the probed checkpoint pages, the driver dereferences and writes to NULL, faulting the kernel (denial of service). The trigger is conditioned on the NAND medium content/health, which can be influenced by media wear, induced faults, or a corrupted/crafted on-flash image.
The fix routes all error assignments through the library's NULL-safe dhara_set_error() helper. Affects Zephyr v4.4.0, where the driver was introduced.
EUVD state
Present in the current official mapping
Known exploitation
Not present in the current ENISA EUVD known-exploited dataset. This is not proof of no exploitation.
ENISA score
4.7 · CVSS 3.1
Advisory evidence
No linked advisory details stored yet
Recommended actionWithin 7 days
Medium technical severity with public exploit material referenced by a structured source; prioritise exposed affected systems while verifying vendor guidance.
Patch available
01
What, why and how
The Dhara flash translation layer disk driver (drivers/disk/ftl_dhara.c) implemented the dhara_nand_ callbacks so that, on a flash error, the error code was written unconditionally through the caller-supplied dhara_error_t err pointer (e.g. *err = DHARA_E_ECC in dhara_nand_read, and similar in dhara_nand_erase/prog/copy).
The upstream Dhara library calls these callbacks with err == NULL along its journal-resume binary search: find_last_checkblock() invokes find_checkblock(j, mid, &found, NULL), which forwards the NULL pointer into dhara_nand_read(). This path runs during disk_ftl_access_init() -> dhara_map_resume() whenever the FTL disk is mounted/initialised.
If a flash read error (uncorrectable ECC, bad block, controller error) occurs on one of the probed checkpoint pages, the driver dereferences and writes to NULL, faulting the kernel (denial of service). The trigger is conditioned on the NAND medium content/health, which can be influenced by media wear, induced faults, or a corrupted/crafted on-flash image.
The fix routes all error assignments through the library's NULL-safe dhara_set_error() helper. Affects Zephyr v4.4.0, where the driver was introduced.
What
The Dhara flash translation layer disk driver (drivers/disk/ftl_dhara.c) implemented the dhara_nand_ callbacks so that, on a flash error, the error code was written unconditionally through the caller-supplied dhara_error_t err pointer (e.g. *err = DHARA_E_ECC in dhara_nand_read, and similar in dhara_nand_erase/prog/copy).
The upstream Dhara library calls these callbacks with err == NULL along its journal-resume binary search: find_last_checkblock() invokes find_checkblock(j, mid, &found, NULL), which forwards the NULL pointer into dhara_nand_read(). This path runs during disk_ftl_access_init() -> dhara_map_resume() whenever the FTL disk is mounted/initialised.
If a flash read error (uncorrectable ECC, bad block, controller error) occurs on one of the probed checkpoint pages, the driver dereferences and writes to NULL, faulting the kernel (denial of service). The trigger is conditioned on the NAND medium content/health, which can be influenced by media wear, induced faults, or a corrupted/crafted on-flash image.
The fix routes all error assignments through the library's NULL-safe dhara_set_error() helper. Affects Zephyr v4.4.0, where the driver was introduced.
Why
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How
An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.
What
The Dhara flash translation layer disk driver (drivers/disk/ftl_dhara.c) implemented the dhara_nand_ callbacks so that, on a flash error, the error code was written unconditionally through the caller-supplied dhara_error_t err pointer (e.g. *err = DHARA_E_ECC in dhara_nand_read, and similar in dhara_nand_erase/prog/copy).
The upstream Dhara library calls these callbacks with err == NULL along its journal-resume binary search: find_last_checkblock() invokes find_checkblock(j, mid, &found, NULL), which forwards the NULL pointer into dhara_nand_read(). This path runs during disk_ftl_access_init() -> dhara_map_resume() whenever the FTL disk is mounted/initialised.
If a flash read error (uncorrectable ECC, bad block, controller error) occurs on one of the probed checkpoint pages, the driver dereferences and writes to NULL, faulting the kernel (denial of service). The trigger is conditioned on the NAND medium content/health, which can be influenced by media wear, induced faults, or a corrupted/crafted on-flash image.
The fix routes all error assignments through the library's NULL-safe dhara_set_error() helper. Affects Zephyr v4.4.0, where the driver was introduced.
Why
The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
How
An attacker operating through local access may attempt exploitation with low privileges. If successful, the issue may disrupt the affected service.
02
Exploit reality and attack path
CVSS severity, EPSS forecast probability, public exploit material and CISA-confirmed exploitation are separate signals.
Observed exploitation ?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.No confirmed evidence
No CISA KEV match was present at the last successful refresh. This means no confirmation from that source, not proof of no exploitation.
Public PoC / exploit material ?Confirmed exploitation and public exploit material are separate signals. Attacks can occur without public proof-of-concept or exploit code.Reference recorded
A structured CVE source labels at least one public reference as exploit material. BlackTree has not independently validated that it is safe, reliable or weaponised.
Likely attack path
local access → NULL Pointer Dereference → disrupt the affected service
Attack surface
Local
Privileges required
Low: a basic authenticated account is required
User interaction
None
Attack complexity
High: exploitation depends on specific conditions
Security boundary
Unchanged: impact remains within the vulnerable component's security authority
Weakness ?CWE means Common Weakness Enumeration: a standard category for the underlying weakness.
CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference. The product dereferences a pointer that it expects to be valid but is NULL.
CVSS vector ?CVSS means Common Vulnerability Scoring System. The vector records the metric values used to calculate technical severity.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Common Vulnerability Scoring System 3.1: the compact vector below is decoded into plain language.
AVLocalAttack vector: The attacker needs local access to the vulnerable system.ACHighAttack complexity: Successful exploitation depends on specific conditions outside the attacker's direct control.PRLowPrivileges required: The attacker needs basic user-level privileges.UINoneUser interaction: No action by another user is required.SUnchangedScope: The security impact remains within the vulnerable component's authority.CNoneConfidentiality impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.INoneIntegrity impact: No direct loss is represented by this metric.AHighAvailability impact: A successful attack can cause a major loss.
Post-exploitation / living off the land
The issue can support a local privilege or sandbox boundary transition; normal system utilities may then be available in the gained context.
Denial of serviceCWE-476Public exploit reference
A
Official authority intelligence
Only matched European and national findings are included. Language selectors and unavailable sources are omitted.
ENISA EUVD · EUVD-2026-42037Official EUVD mapping
The Dhara flash translation layer disk driver (drivers/disk/ftl_dhara.c) implemented the dhara_nand_ callbacks so that, on a flash error, the error code was written unconditionally through the caller-supplied dhara_error_t err pointer (e.g. *err = DHARA_E_ECC in dhara_nand_read, and similar in dhara_nand_erase/prog/copy).
The upstream Dhara library calls these callbacks with err == NULL along its journal-resume binary search: find_last_checkblock() invokes find_checkblock(j, mid, &found, NULL), which forwards the NULL pointer into dhara_nand_read(). This path runs during disk_ftl_access_init() -> dhara_map_resume() whenever the FTL disk is mounted/initialised.
If a flash read error (uncorrectable ECC, bad block, controller error) occurs on one of the probed checkpoint pages, the driver dereferences and writes to NULL, faulting the kernel (denial of service). The trigger is conditioned on the NAND medium content/health, which can be influenced by media wear, induced faults, or a corrupted/crafted on-flash image.
The fix routes all error assignments through the library's NULL-safe dhara_set_error() helper. Affects Zephyr v4.4.0, where the driver was introduced.
Official EUVD record ↗Cyber Security Agency of Singapore · English · CSA-SB-20260708Security Bulletin 8 July 2026 [PDF, 1MB]]
The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore included this CVE in its official Security Bulletin 8 July 2026 [PDF, 1MB]], published on 8 July 2026. Open the linked bulletin for the product, severity and reference information published in that issue.
Official advisory ↗JVN iPedia · Japanese · JVNDB-2026-023524Zephyr ProjectのZephyrにおけるNULL ポインタデリファレンスに関する脆弱性
Operational remediation based on structured source evidence.
Status ?Patch availability is based on structured fixed-version fields and authoritative update references. If no fix is verified, check the vendor advisory before making a change.
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
zephyr: 4.4.0 < 4.5.0 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
After
zephyr: 4.4.0 < 4.4.2 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
4.4.0 < 4.5.0 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
After
4.4.0 < 4.4.2 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Affected versionsThe structured affected or fixed version information changed.
Before
4.4.0 < 4.4.2 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
After
zephyr: 4.4.0 < 4.5.0 · Fixed: An authoritative update reference is available, but the fixed version is not recorded in the structured CVE fields. Check the linked vendor advisory for the applicable release.
Technical terms and abbreviations used in this report
CVE
Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures: the public identifier for one disclosed vulnerability.
CVSS
Common Vulnerability Scoring System: a technical severity framework; it is not patching priority by itself.
EPSS
Exploit Prediction Scoring System: FIRST's estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days; it is a forecast, not confirmation.
CWE
Common Weakness Enumeration: the standard category describing the underlying software or hardware weakness.
CNA
CVE Numbering Authority: an organisation authorised to assign and publish CVE records.
CISA ADP
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Authorized Data Publisher: structured enrichment added to a CVE record.
NVD
National Vulnerability Database: NIST's enrichment service for CVE records.
CERT / CSIRT
A computer security incident response team that publishes warnings or coordinates incident response.
PoC
Proof of concept: public material that demonstrates or helps reproduce exploitation.
CSAF
Common Security Advisory Framework: a machine-readable format for security advisories.
LoTL
Living off the land: abuse of legitimate tools or system functions during an attack.