Local kernel-memory disclosure via unset MAC header logging
Published Jun 24, 2026 · Updated Jun 24, 2026
Out-of-bounds read in affected Linux Kernel versions allows local users to disclose kernel memory through Netfilter packet logging. dump_mac_header() tests only whether mac_header differs from network_header; when it is unset at 0xffff, skb_mac_header() points about 64 KiB beyond skb->head and copies bytes into the kernel log. Reachability requires a netdev nftables log rule and an AF_PACKET frame sent with PACKET_QDISC_BYPASS, which bypasses the path that normally resets the header.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds read in affected Linux Kernel versions allows local users to disclose kernel memory through Netfilter packet logging. dump_mac_header() tests only whether mac_header differs from network_header; when it is unset at 0xffff, skb_mac_header() points about 64 KiB beyond skb->head and copies bytes into the kernel log. Reachability requires a netdev nftables log rule and an AF_PACKET frame sent with PACKET_QDISC_BYPASS, which bypasses the path that normally resets the header.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-52942
- Published
- Jun 24, 2026
- Updated
- Jun 24, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux Kernel
- Classifications
- CWE-125
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Jun 24, 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.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.36
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <65ef7397eb9a296e91839f5fd10be96f23d332e7
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <8a81e336da685423f5b64aac4d571e63d674c52a
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <a84b6fedbc97078788be78dbdd7517d143ad1a77
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <af1b7699466f6556b351fa25d3dc870abfb5d310
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <befb8968a2abdfa948d5600ea7f7a509a292a590
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <c38d41134085193efd5b237cf513ad5b3421a60d
- Affected versionversion=7eb9282cd0efac08b8377cbd5037ba297c77e3f7 <d704ee9c7bc68a161684c51a7ac05b446dcf38d4
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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