Kernel memory disclosure via undersized authentication tag
Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026
Out-of-bounds read in Linux Kernel 4.11 and affected later revisions allows local users to read kernel memory or crash via AF_ALG. crypto_authenc_esn_create() accepts a 1-to-3-byte ahash digest as maxauthsize, although ESN tail handling always moves four sequence-number bytes against the tag. Exploitation requires local access and creation of a specially configured authencesn instance; the bounded effects are kernel-memory disclosure and a system crash.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds read in Linux Kernel 4.11 and affected later revisions allows local users to read kernel memory or crash via AF_ALG. crypto_authenc_esn_create() accepts a 1-to-3-byte ahash digest as maxauthsize, although ESN tail handling always moves four sequence-number bytes against the tag. Exploitation requires local access and creation of a specially configured authencesn instance; the bounded effects are kernel-memory disclosure and a system crash.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-46033
- Published
- May 27, 2026
- Updated
- May 27, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-1284, CWE-125
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 27, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=4.11
- Affected versionversion=f15f05b0a5de667c821a9727c33bce9d1d9b26dd <5db6ef9847717329f12c5ea8aba7e9f588a980c0
- Affected versionversion=f15f05b0a5de667c821a9727c33bce9d1d9b26dd <67f1f0933cc3d78dde222842bcad2778ec7a0b88
- Affected versionversion=f15f05b0a5de667c821a9727c33bce9d1d9b26dd <9aff81e8217e9de2929084b03b3c7f81988c112b
- Affected versionversion=f15f05b0a5de667c821a9727c33bce9d1d9b26dd <b42821c15445f93daea3e76ada682b2b7181c476
- Affected versionversion=f15f05b0a5de667c821a9727c33bce9d1d9b26dd <b69933e97efea238ebbfcf70c2b1be1cd03f13e3
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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