CVE-2026-53090

Local privilege escalation via unmodeled BPF return path

Published Jun 24, 2026 · Updated Jun 24, 2026

A BPF verifier bypass in Linux Kernel allows local users to disclose or modify kernel memory through crafted BPF programs. The verifier fails to simulate bpf_gen_ld_abs()'s r0=0 abnormal return when an ld_abs or ld_ind packet load fails inside a BTF-annotated scalar-returning subprogram. Loading the crafted program requires CAP_BPF-equivalent privileges, including delegated BPF-token access, and the unchecked path enables kernel memory disclosure or modification and kernel crashes.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A BPF verifier bypass in Linux Kernel allows local users to disclose or modify kernel memory through crafted BPF programs. The verifier fails to simulate bpf_gen_ld_abs()'s r0=0 abnormal return when an ld_abs or ld_ind packet load fails inside a BTF-annotated scalar-returning subprogram. Loading the crafted program requires CAP_BPF-equivalent privileges, including delegated BPF-token access, and the unchecked path enables kernel memory disclosure or modification and kernel crashes.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53090
Published
Jun 24, 2026
Updated
Jun 24, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-253, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 24, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. 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.

  1. Affected versionversion=09b28d76eac48e922dc293da1aa2b2b85c32aeee <d846d83bdacbd8f14fc45c63b8c1d22608452e1c
  2. Affected versionversion=09b28d76eac48e922dc293da1aa2b2b85c32aeee <ee861486e377edc55361c08dcbceab3f6b6577bd
  3. Affected versionversion=5.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=09b28d76eac48e922dc293da1aa2b2b85c32aeee <d846d83bdacbd8f14fc45c63b8c1d22608452e1c; version=09b28d76eac48e922dc293da1aa2b2b85c32aeee <ee861486e377edc55361c08dcbceab3f6b6577bd; version=5.10

Published CVSS scores

6.4Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-253Incorrect Check of Function Return Value
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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