CVE-2026-45839

Kernel crash via negative BPF accessor index

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Improper array-index validation in the Linux Kernel allows local users to crash the system via a crafted BPF program. bpf_core_parse_spec() accepts a negative CO-RE accessor index, and btf_member_bit_offset() casts -1 to 0xffffffff for an out-of-bounds member-array read. The path requires CAP_BPF and CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF=y; loading the crafted program causes a deterministic kernel page fault and system crash.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper array-index validation in the Linux Kernel allows local users to crash the system via a crafted BPF program. bpf_core_parse_spec() accepts a negative CO-RE accessor index, and btf_member_bit_offset() casts -1 to 0xffffffff for an out-of-bounds member-array read. The path requires CAP_BPF and CONFIG_DEBUG_INFO_BTF=y; loading the crafted program causes a deterministic kernel page fault and system crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-45839
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-129, T1499
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 27, 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=5.4
  2. Affected versionversion=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <1c22483a2c4bbf747787f328392ca3e68619c4dc
  3. Affected versionversion=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <36a9012f76ba8d9189ae56a1f8bb7c87c07a1f3a
  4. Affected versionversion=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <3ff85ae79e1a74baeb916b78a63d821f6d19a994
  5. Affected versionversion=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <76f2ebaf79a9ae6d0737b87f045fe769e425d78f
  6. Affected versionversion=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <99dbab7b5a12d8f58d5b0aa2f7a1fe656a70f4b2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=5.4; version=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <1c22483a2c4bbf747787f328392ca3e68619c4dc; version=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <36a9012f76ba8d9189ae56a1f8bb7c87c07a1f3a; version=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <3ff85ae79e1a74baeb916b78a63d821f6d19a994; version=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <76f2ebaf79a9ae6d0737b87f045fe769e425d78f; version=ddc7c3042614e273044f698d2beab25cc3842d45 <99dbab7b5a12d8f58d5b0aa2f7a1fe656a70f4b2

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5Amazon LinuxCVSS: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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-129Improper Validation of Array Index
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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