CVE-2026-45929

Kernel memory corruption via stale skb reuse

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel ovpn allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by transmitting through a local ovpn tunnel interface. During skb_list construction, skb_share_check frees a shared original skb, but ovpn_net_xmit retains and reuses its stale pointer for peer lookup, destination removal, and transmit statistics. Triggering requires local transmission and CAP_NET_ADMIN or CAP_NET_RAW, including capabilities granted in a user namespace; successful exploitation reads or corrupts kernel memory or panics the host.

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

What happened

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel ovpn allows local users to corrupt kernel memory by transmitting through a local ovpn tunnel interface. During skb_list construction, skb_share_check frees a shared original skb, but ovpn_net_xmit retains and reuses its stale pointer for peer lookup, destination removal, and transmit statistics. Triggering requires local transmission and CAP_NET_ADMIN or CAP_NET_RAW, including capabilities granted in a user namespace; successful exploitation reads or corrupts kernel memory or panics the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-45929
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-416, T1068
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=08857b5ec5d91d83e69e40a36554a8c7557b7301 <3e4fbcb4e078915367ba5576cd70d76dbc970f95
  2. Affected versionversion=08857b5ec5d91d83e69e40a36554a8c7557b7301 <442915c96a9bff1c7080e2aedabb1c03faa28d81
  3. Affected versionversion=08857b5ec5d91d83e69e40a36554a8c7557b7301 <a5ec7baa44ea3a1d6aa0ca31c0ad82edf9affe41
  4. Affected versionversion=6.16

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=08857b5ec5d91d83e69e40a36554a8c7557b7301 <3e4fbcb4e078915367ba5576cd70d76dbc970f95; version=08857b5ec5d91d83e69e40a36554a8c7557b7301 <442915c96a9bff1c7080e2aedabb1c03faa28d81; version=08857b5ec5d91d83e69e40a36554a8c7557b7301 <a5ec7baa44ea3a1d6aa0ca31c0ad82edf9affe41; version=6.16

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux kernelCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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