CVE-2026-43164Network attack vector

Remote crash via ignored UDP-Lite initialization failure

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux Kernel UDP-Lite subsystem allows remote attackers to crash affected systems via UDP-Lite packets. udplite_sk_init() and udplitev6_sk_init() discard socket-initialization errors, leaving udp_prod_queue null before __udp_enqueue_schedule_skb() reads it. An affected UDP-Lite socket must first encounter an allocation failure during initialization; a subsequent unauthenticated packet then causes the kernel crash.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

NULL pointer dereference in the Linux Kernel UDP-Lite subsystem allows remote attackers to crash affected systems via UDP-Lite packets. udplite_sk_init() and udplitev6_sk_init() discard socket-initialization errors, leaving udp_prod_queue null before __udp_enqueue_schedule_skb() reads it. An affected UDP-Lite socket must first encounter an allocation failure during initialization; a subsequent unauthenticated packet then causes the kernel crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43164
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-476, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=6.18
  2. Affected versionversion=b650bf0977d34c52befb31a9fa711534e11b220f <0f13fa087ead642ea1eb5fdb6eb092c913ef06b7
  3. Affected versionversion=b650bf0977d34c52befb31a9fa711534e11b220f <470c7ca2b4c3e3a51feeb952b7f97a775b5c49cd
  4. Affected versionversion=b650bf0977d34c52befb31a9fa711534e11b220f <f27030ac5bef47d997cfac05a3d188aa69f4df7f

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.18; version=b650bf0977d34c52befb31a9fa711534e11b220f <0f13fa087ead642ea1eb5fdb6eb092c913ef06b7; version=b650bf0977d34c52befb31a9fa711534e11b220f <470c7ca2b4c3e3a51feeb952b7f97a775b5c49cd; version=b650bf0977d34c52befb31a9fa711534e11b220f <f27030ac5bef47d997cfac05a3d188aa69f4df7f

Published CVSS scores

7.5kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-476NULL Pointer Dereference
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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