CVE-2026-46031Network attack vector

System hang via ks8851 IRQ lock recursion

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Deadlock in the Linux kernel ks8851 Ethernet driver allows remote attackers to hang affected systems through network traffic. The ks8851_irq handler leaves bottom halves enabled while holding the driver lock, so a pending TX softirq reenters ks8851_start_xmit_par and blocks on the same lock. A transmitted packet is required; PREEMPT_RT systems also require a received packet, while affected non-RT kernels can deadlock when bottom halves run after statelock is released.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Deadlock in the Linux kernel ks8851 Ethernet driver allows remote attackers to hang affected systems through network traffic. The ks8851_irq handler leaves bottom halves enabled while holding the driver lock, so a pending TX softirq reenters ks8851_start_xmit_par and blocks on the same lock. A transmitted packet is required; PREEMPT_RT systems also require a received packet, while affected non-RT kernels can deadlock when bottom halves run after statelock is released.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-46031
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-667, T1499.004
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=6.1.91 <6.2
  2. Affected versionversion=6.6.31 <6.6.140
  3. Affected versionversion=6.8.10 <6.9
  4. Affected versionversion=6.9
  5. Affected versionversion=7e2901a2a9195da76111f351584bf77552a038f0
  6. Affected versionversion=8a3ff43dcbab7c96f9e8cf2bd1049ab8d6e59545
  7. Affected versionversion=ae87f661f3c1a3134a7ed86ab69bf9f12af88993 <640a7631d31db87d5fa1b34cea44a99b6e78854b
  8. Affected versionversion=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <21f1707a8e978558dcb11b053855521e32ac0eec
  9. Affected versionversion=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <518040324067d8efaa2da1992297b7e7bf5640f4
  10. Affected versionversion=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <5c9fcac3c872224316714d0d8914d9af16c76a6d
  11. Affected versionversion=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <be8aad558b4675f45b43080f81a9ffdeddea73a5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=6.1.91 <6.2; version=6.6.31 <6.6.140; version=6.8.10 <6.9; version=6.9; version=7e2901a2a9195da76111f351584bf77552a038f0; version=8a3ff43dcbab7c96f9e8cf2bd1049ab8d6e59545; version=ae87f661f3c1a3134a7ed86ab69bf9f12af88993 <640a7631d31db87d5fa1b34cea44a99b6e78854b; version=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <21f1707a8e978558dcb11b053855521e32ac0eec; version=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <518040324067d8efaa2da1992297b7e7bf5640f4; version=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <5c9fcac3c872224316714d0d8914d9af16c76a6d; version=e0863634bf9f7cf36291ebb5bfa2d16632f79c49 <be8aad558b4675f45b43080f81a9ffdeddea73a5

Published CVSS scores

7.5Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/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

CWE-667Improper Locking
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

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