CVE-2026-23269

Kernel-memory disclosure via unchecked DFA start state

Published Mar 18, 2026 · Updated Mar 18, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in AppArmor policy unpacking in Linux Kernel allows local users to access kernel memory via a crafted policy. In unpack_pdb(), aa_dfa_next() uses the untrusted start state to index dfa->tables[YYTD_ID_BASE] without checking it against the DFA state count. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a path to submit a malformed AppArmor policy; the record bounds impact to kernel-memory disclosure and service interruption, with no integrity loss.

CVSS severity7.1
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds read in AppArmor policy unpacking in Linux Kernel allows local users to access kernel memory via a crafted policy. In unpack_pdb(), aa_dfa_next() uses the untrusted start state to index dfa->tables[YYTD_ID_BASE] without checking it against the DFA state count. Exploitation requires local low-privileged access and a path to submit a malformed AppArmor policy; the record bounds impact to kernel-memory disclosure and service interruption, with no integrity loss.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-23269
Published
Mar 18, 2026
Updated
Mar 18, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-125, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 18, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Mar 18, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=3.4
  2. Affected versionversion=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <0baadb0eece2c4d939db10d3c323b4652ac79a58
  3. Affected versionversion=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <15c3eb8916e7db01cb246d04a1fe6f0fdc065b0c
  4. Affected versionversion=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <3bb7db43e32190c973d4019037cedb7895920184
  5. Affected versionversion=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <9063d7e2615f4a7ab321de6b520e23d370e58816

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=3.4; version=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <0baadb0eece2c4d939db10d3c323b4652ac79a58; version=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <15c3eb8916e7db01cb246d04a1fe6f0fdc065b0c; version=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <3bb7db43e32190c973d4019037cedb7895920184; version=ad5ff3db53c68c2f12936bc74ea5dfe0af943592 <9063d7e2615f4a7ab321de6b520e23d370e58816

Published CVSS scores

7.1Linux kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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