CVE-2026-43197Network attack vector

Kernel-memory disclosure via unterminated netconsole messages

Published May 6, 2026 · Updated May 6, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in Linux Kernel netconsole allows remote attackers to disclose adjacent kernel memory via emitted log messages. The release-prefix path passes a length-delimited, non-NUL-terminated message to scnprintf with an unbounded %s conversion instead of limiting it to msg_len. The path requires netconsole release metadata; it can send adjacent kernel data to the configured receiver or interrupt the host.

CVSS severity9.1
Critical
EPSS probability0.48%
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 Linux Kernel netconsole allows remote attackers to disclose adjacent kernel memory via emitted log messages. The release-prefix path passes a length-delimited, non-NUL-terminated message to scnprintf with an unbounded %s conversion instead of limiting it to msg_len. The path requires netconsole release metadata; it can send adjacent kernel data to the configured receiver or interrupt the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43197
Published
May 6, 2026
Updated
May 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-125
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=6.6
  2. Affected versionversion=c62c0a17f9b7398022f9eebe547878033264f81f <3126a2f98beaec5a554a1fb31c46db1e8542665e
  3. Affected versionversion=c62c0a17f9b7398022f9eebe547878033264f81f <74ab1456eaa3b2eb986138f9e1f4cb37e73b6f58
  4. Affected versionversion=c62c0a17f9b7398022f9eebe547878033264f81f <82aec772fca2223bc5774bd9af486fd95766e578

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.6; version=c62c0a17f9b7398022f9eebe547878033264f81f <3126a2f98beaec5a554a1fb31c46db1e8542665e; version=c62c0a17f9b7398022f9eebe547878033264f81f <74ab1456eaa3b2eb986138f9e1f4cb37e73b6f58; version=c62c0a17f9b7398022f9eebe547878033264f81f <82aec772fca2223bc5774bd9af486fd95766e578

Published CVSS scores

9.1kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read

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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