CVE-2026-43452Network attack vector

Kernel-memory disclosure and crash via tail read

Published May 8, 2026 · Updated May 8, 2026

Out-of-bounds reads in the Linux Kernel x_tables TCP/DCCP option walkers allow remote attackers to read kernel memory or crash hosts. When an option area ends with a non-single-byte kind, xt_tcpudp and xt_dccp read the absent following length byte while advancing. Reachability requires an installed x_tables TCP or DCCP option-match rule; crafted unauthenticated packets then cause a bounded one-byte read, with no memory-write primitive.

CVSS severity8.2
High
EPSS probability0.44%
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 reads in the Linux Kernel x_tables TCP/DCCP option walkers allow remote attackers to read kernel memory or crash hosts. When an option area ends with a non-single-byte kind, xt_tcpudp and xt_dccp read the absent following length byte while advancing. Reachability requires an installed x_tables TCP or DCCP option-match rule; crafted unauthenticated packets then cause a bounded one-byte read, with no memory-write primitive.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43452
Published
May 8, 2026
Updated
May 8, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
T1499.004
Attack vector
network
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=2.6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <5b18b8b35c7cded2d17b2b2604c9b0694ff48d1c
  3. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <9b94f0e42ed248eb31929da84ed9f5310d7ff540
  4. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <ae1e1267650638136b84c23f2b31250f0ccb6823
  5. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <bc18551c6169eac5ed813778d3e3e484002dbbe5
  6. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <c2a445367a496a3c25dbc940c10c8bd1cfd4c14a
  7. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <c39f84e4be1be63fc60ca7141ea7b76edcea5907
  8. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <cfe770220ac2dbd3e104c6b45094037455da81d4
  9. Affected versionversion=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <d04800323336eebf441d153f43234eac9b833d36

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.16; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <5b18b8b35c7cded2d17b2b2604c9b0694ff48d1c; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <9b94f0e42ed248eb31929da84ed9f5310d7ff540; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <ae1e1267650638136b84c23f2b31250f0ccb6823; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <bc18551c6169eac5ed813778d3e3e484002dbbe5; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <c2a445367a496a3c25dbc940c10c8bd1cfd4c14a; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <c39f84e4be1be63fc60ca7141ea7b76edcea5907; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <cfe770220ac2dbd3e104c6b45094037455da81d4; version=2e4e6a17af35be359cc8f1c924f8f198fbd478cc <d04800323336eebf441d153f43234eac9b833d36

Published CVSS scores

8.2kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/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

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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