CVE-2026-45988Network attack vector

Incorrect RESPONSE processing via repeated decryption

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Improper packet-state handling in the Linux Kernel rxrpc subsystem allows remote attackers to trigger repeated RESPONSE decryption. In rxrpc_do_process_connection(), ENOMEM or EAGAIN after rxrpc_process_event() caused the partially decrypted packet buffer to be placed back at the head of conn->rx_queue for another pass. A transient processing failure during an encrypted RESPONSE is required; kernel.org has not documented the resulting security consequence beyond incorrect packet processing.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper packet-state handling in the Linux Kernel rxrpc subsystem allows remote attackers to trigger repeated RESPONSE decryption. In rxrpc_do_process_connection(), ENOMEM or EAGAIN after rxrpc_process_event() caused the partially decrypted packet buffer to be placed back at the head of conn->rx_queue for another pass. A transient processing failure during an encrypted RESPONSE is required; kernel.org has not documented the resulting security consequence beyond incorrect packet processing.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-45988
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <0422e7a4883f25101903f3e8105c0808aa5f4ce9
  2. Affected versionversion=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <76cb9a2d252274adfae6e293a292434631a7d472
  3. Affected versionversion=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <7b89868305052b94a91b708c462bc2281fa42a4a
  4. Affected versionversion=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <d61482be4aae1835b78875761206241835a7510e
  5. Affected versionversion=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <f55b383070170e988e4dec28be2af1714d258521
  6. Affected versionversion=2.6.22

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <0422e7a4883f25101903f3e8105c0808aa5f4ce9; version=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <76cb9a2d252274adfae6e293a292434631a7d472; version=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <7b89868305052b94a91b708c462bc2281fa42a4a; version=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <d61482be4aae1835b78875761206241835a7510e; version=17926a79320afa9b95df6b977b40cca6d8713cea <f55b383070170e988e4dec28be2af1714d258521; version=2.6.22

Published CVSS scores

9.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
5.5OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
5.9Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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