CVE-2026-43088

Uninitialized data exposure via PF_KEY exports

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Uninitialized data exposure in affected Linux Kernel releases allows local users to receive four unwritten bytes in PF_KEY exports. PF_KEY code reserves 32 bytes for an IPv6 sockaddr, but pfkey_sockaddr_fill initializes only 28 before skb_put emits the aligned tail. Local low-privileged access and receipt of an affected SADB message are required; no larger disclosure or write primitive is reported.

CVSS severityUnavailable
Unscored
EPSS probability0.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uninitialized data exposure in affected Linux Kernel releases allows local users to receive four unwritten bytes in PF_KEY exports. PF_KEY code reserves 32 bytes for an IPv6 sockaddr, but pfkey_sockaddr_fill initializes only 28 before skb_put emits the aligned tail. Local low-privileged access and receipt of an affected SADB message are required; no larger disclosure or write primitive is reported.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43088
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 6, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2e74f974359b5382ecbe8536abbb5b837eb6c724
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <426c355742f02cf743b347d9d7dbdc1bfbfa31ef
  3. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <2e74f974359b5382ecbe8536abbb5b837eb6c724; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <426c355742f02cf743b347d9d7dbdc1bfbfa31ef; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

No CVSS assessment is available in this record.

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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

T1005Data from Local System

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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