CVE-2026-43486

Local system hang via gathered ContPTE false no-op

Published May 13, 2026 · Updated May 13, 2026

Infinite-loop denial of service in the Linux Kernel allows local users to hang affected Arm64 systems through recurring page faults. contpte_ptep_set_access_flags() compares a CONT block's gathered access and dirty bits with the requested entry, so an updated sibling can falsely suppress the target sub-PTE update. Exposure requires a per-descriptor page-table walker, such as a CPU without DBM or an SMMU without HTTU, and the unchanged descriptor remains trapped in an infinite fault loop.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.11%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite-loop denial of service in the Linux Kernel allows local users to hang affected Arm64 systems through recurring page faults. contpte_ptep_set_access_flags() compares a CONT block's gathered access and dirty bits with the requested entry, so an updated sibling can falsely suppress the target sub-PTE update. Exposure requires a per-descriptor page-table walker, such as a CPU without DBM or an SMMU without HTTU, and the unchanged descriptor remains trapped in an infinite fault loop.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-43486
Published
May 13, 2026
Updated
May 13, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 13, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 13, 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=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <05d239f2c95e66e27e7fb4e99ee07eb56e3e34b0
  2. Affected versionversion=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <09d620555e59768776090073a2c59d2bc8506eb3
  3. Affected versionversion=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <6f92a7a8b48a523f910ef25dd83808710724f59b
  4. Affected versionversion=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <97c5550b763171dbef61e6239cab372b9f9cd4a2
  5. Affected versionversion=6.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <05d239f2c95e66e27e7fb4e99ee07eb56e3e34b0; version=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <09d620555e59768776090073a2c59d2bc8506eb3; version=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <6f92a7a8b48a523f910ef25dd83808710724f59b; version=4602e5757bcceb231c3a13c36c373ad4a750eddb <97c5550b763171dbef61e6239cab372b9f9cd4a2; version=6.9

Published CVSS scores

5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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