[PATCH v2] kconfig: fix potential NULL pointer dereference in conf_askvalue()

From: Xingjing Deng

Date: Sun Mar 01 2026 - 00:30:51 EST


In conf_askvalue(), the 'def' argument (retrieved via sym_get_string_value)
can be NULL. While current call sites ensure that 'def' is valid,
calling printf("%s\n", def) is technically undefined behavior and could
lead to a segmentation fault on certain libc implementations if the
function were called with a NULL pointer in the future.

Improve the robustness of conf_askvalue() by providing an empty string
as a fallback.

Additionally, remove the redundant re-initialization of the 'line'
buffer inside the !sym_is_changeable(sym) block, as it is already
properly initialized at the function entry.

Fixes: 1da177e4c3f4 ("Linux-2.6.12-rc2")
Signed-off-by: Xingjing Deng <micro6947@xxxxxxxxx>
---

v2:
- Change commit message and use fewer characters in modify.
- Link to v1: https://lore.kernel.org/all/20260225072246.3475275-1-micro6947@xxxxxxxxx/

scripts/kconfig/conf.c | 6 ++----
1 file changed, 2 insertions(+), 4 deletions(-)

diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
index a7b44cd8a..0d32183c5 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/conf.c
@@ -297,9 +297,7 @@ static int conf_askvalue(struct symbol *sym, const char *def)
line[1] = 0;

if (!sym_is_changeable(sym)) {
- printf("%s\n", def);
- line[0] = '\n';
- line[1] = 0;
+ printf("%s\n", def :? "");
return 0;
}

@@ -307,7 +305,7 @@ static int conf_askvalue(struct symbol *sym, const char *def)
case oldconfig:
case syncconfig:
if (sym_has_value(sym)) {
- printf("%s\n", def);
+ printf("%s\n", def :? "");
return 0;
}
/* fall through */
--
2.25.1