CVE-2026-43334

Adjacent pairing downgrade via omitted MITM flag

Published May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

Authentication-policy bypass in affected Linux Kernel releases allows physically proximate attackers to compromise Bluetooth pairing. In smp_cmd_pairing_req(), the responder copies the initiator's auth_req before enforcing BT_SECURITY_HIGH, so tk_request() can select JUST_CFM without MITM authentication. The target must require high Bluetooth security and accept pairing from a nearby unauthenticated peer; the downgrade exposes protected traffic, keys, and service operations to interception, alteration, or disruption.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Authentication-policy bypass in affected Linux Kernel releases allows physically proximate attackers to compromise Bluetooth pairing. In smp_cmd_pairing_req(), the responder copies the initiator's auth_req before enforcing BT_SECURITY_HIGH, so tk_request() can select JUST_CFM without MITM authentication. The target must require high Bluetooth security and accept pairing from a nearby unauthenticated peer; the downgrade exposes protected traffic, keys, and service operations to interception, alteration, or disruption.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43334
Published
May 8, 2026
Updated
May 8, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1557
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 8, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 8, 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=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <01bb4045d2306c266178f49ce0c3576d237a3040
  2. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <425a22c5373d4e1b46492ab869074ebeeade61f3
  3. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <7ab69426e7ecbd18a222ee2ec87ca612d30197d7
  4. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <91649c02c1baaa18cedf7fb425fa1f0f852c8183
  5. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <c8ff0ca6508535bccabd81c5c9dcc63de8a3d4fb
  6. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <d05111bfe37bfd8bd4d2dfe6675d6bdeef43f7c7
  7. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <ec17efb1ef91506cfd17a77692eaf4bbacb520ea
  8. Affected versionversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <fa14e0e19820b1bbdb42185c9c4efa950bcffef9
  9. Affected versionversion=3.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <01bb4045d2306c266178f49ce0c3576d237a3040; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <425a22c5373d4e1b46492ab869074ebeeade61f3; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <7ab69426e7ecbd18a222ee2ec87ca612d30197d7; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <91649c02c1baaa18cedf7fb425fa1f0f852c8183; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <c8ff0ca6508535bccabd81c5c9dcc63de8a3d4fb; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <d05111bfe37bfd8bd4d2dfe6675d6bdeef43f7c7; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <ec17efb1ef91506cfd17a77692eaf4bbacb520ea; version=2b64d153a0cc9d2b60e47be013cde8490f16e0a5 <fa14e0e19820b1bbdb42185c9c4efa950bcffef9; version=3.3

Published CVSS scores

8.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

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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