CVE-2026-46238

Kernel memory corruption via stale originator pointer

Published May 28, 2026 · Updated May 28, 2026

Use-after-free in Linux Kernel batman-adv BAT IV allows attackers on the same mesh segment to read or alter kernel memory via crafted OGMs. The BAT IV neighbor state caches an originator pointer from a temporary lookup without owning its reference, so purge handling can free the object before later lock and field access. Any unauthenticated node able to inject raw layer-2 frames on that mesh can trigger the stale dereference without user interaction, leading to memory disclosure, kernel corruption, or a kernel panic.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.26%
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 batman-adv BAT IV allows attackers on the same mesh segment to read or alter kernel memory via crafted OGMs. The BAT IV neighbor state caches an originator pointer from a temporary lookup without owning its reference, so purge handling can free the object before later lock and field access. Any unauthenticated node able to inject raw layer-2 frames on that mesh can trigger the stale dereference without user interaction, leading to memory disclosure, kernel corruption, or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-46238
Published
May 28, 2026
Updated
May 28, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
adjacent
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 28, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. May 28, 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=2.6.38
  2. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <09dc0d1a12222ffca6481916eab3cfea477b9620
  3. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <67bceeb22207f1f5a402973a3a0809e5f2698f38
  4. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6e20700f8c524ac379ba8274ff5d453023b7c006
  5. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <aafcbaf1159ea224528ca4075d0ba8c10ef374af
  6. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <f03e8583532941b07761c5429de7d50766fa3110

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=2.6.38; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <09dc0d1a12222ffca6481916eab3cfea477b9620; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <67bceeb22207f1f5a402973a3a0809e5f2698f38; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6e20700f8c524ac379ba8274ff5d453023b7c006; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <aafcbaf1159ea224528ca4075d0ba8c10ef374af; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <f03e8583532941b07761c5429de7d50766fa3110

Published CVSS scores

8.8Linux kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:A/AC:L/PR:N/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.

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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)
Vectoradjacent
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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