CVE-2026-46094

Kernel-memory overread via xattr bounds check

Published May 27, 2026 · Updated May 27, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel ext4 xattr validator allows local users to trigger a kernel-memory overread. The check_xattrs() boundary test accepts a next-entry pointer less than four bytes from the region end, after which IS_LAST_ENTRY() performs a four-byte read. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and an ext4 xattr layout that places the next entry within three bytes of the boundary.

CVSS severity7.1
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

Out-of-bounds read in the Linux kernel ext4 xattr validator allows local users to trigger a kernel-memory overread. The check_xattrs() boundary test accepts a next-entry pointer less than four bytes from the region end, after which IS_LAST_ENTRY() performs a four-byte read. Exploitation requires local low-privilege access and an ext4 xattr layout that places the next entry within three bytes of the boundary.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-46094
Published
May 27, 2026
Updated
May 27, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-125
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=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <520986722dbf869c122252123fc161c7302eab7d
  2. Affected versionversion=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <537e065977022aa22f2c2503e8accaf16622e0fd
  3. Affected versionversion=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <5a5314d2387633a272a04d1bd8727f99058e4e68
  4. Affected versionversion=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <ab6da97bc310db35d4e4ef5354bc3ff626b0698c
  5. Affected versionversion=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <eceafc31ea7b42c984ece10d79d505c0bb6615d5
  6. Affected versionversion=6.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <520986722dbf869c122252123fc161c7302eab7d; version=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <537e065977022aa22f2c2503e8accaf16622e0fd; version=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <5a5314d2387633a272a04d1bd8727f99058e4e68; version=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <ab6da97bc310db35d4e4ef5354bc3ff626b0698c; version=3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e <eceafc31ea7b42c984ece10d79d505c0bb6615d5; version=6.3

Published CVSS scores

7.1NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read

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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