CVE-2026-43016

Kernel memory access via orphaned socket race

Published May 1, 2026 · Updated May 1, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel sockmap verdict path allows local users to access freed memory during concurrent AF_UNIX socket teardown. sk_psock_verdict_data_ready() reads sk_socket and its operations after unix_stream_sendmsg() drops unix_state_lock(), allowing sock_orphan() to free the socket after an RCU grace period. The condition requires local low-privileged access and a sockmap verdict path; the stale read can expose kernel data or crash the host.

CVSS severity7.8
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

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel sockmap verdict path allows local users to access freed memory during concurrent AF_UNIX socket teardown. sk_psock_verdict_data_ready() reads sk_socket and its operations after unix_stream_sendmsg() drops unix_state_lock(), allowing sock_orphan() to free the socket after an RCU grace period. The condition requires local low-privileged access and a sockmap verdict path; the stale read can expose kernel data or crash the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43016
Published
May 1, 2026
Updated
May 1, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 1, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 1, 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=5.15
  2. Affected versionversion=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <18861f87a043e78b1f901cae4237e755ed7ef095
  3. Affected versionversion=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <68187f18a89be4b6237d28ae1313b5adf76238c6
  4. Affected versionversion=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <8d597e3e74027900ffa81b8ff47ab51999a3e110
  5. Affected versionversion=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <ad8391d37f334ee73ba91926f8b4e4cf6d31ea04
  6. Affected versionversion=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <af95bc39a83d82ae6ad253986335037256888b3f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.15; version=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <18861f87a043e78b1f901cae4237e755ed7ef095; version=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <68187f18a89be4b6237d28ae1313b5adf76238c6; version=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <8d597e3e74027900ffa81b8ff47ab51999a3e110; version=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <ad8391d37f334ee73ba91926f8b4e4cf6d31ea04; version=c63829182c37c2d6d0608976d15fa61ebebe9e6b <af95bc39a83d82ae6ad253986335037256888b3f

Published CVSS scores

7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/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-416Use After Free
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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