CVE-2026-53246Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via unchecked SCTP INIT length

Published Jun 25, 2026 · Updated Jun 25, 2026

Out-of-bounds memory access in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via crafted SCTP COOKIE_ECHO packets. The sctp_unpack_cookie() path trusts the cached peer INIT chunk length, so sctp_walk_params() and later kmemdup() copies can pass the remaining COOKIE_ECHO buffer. Reachability requires a listening SCTP endpoint and, for cookie modification, disabled SCTP cookie HMAC; the flaw can disclose memory, corrupt association state, or crash the kernel.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.44%
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 memory access in the Linux kernel allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via crafted SCTP COOKIE_ECHO packets. The sctp_unpack_cookie() path trusts the cached peer INIT chunk length, so sctp_walk_params() and later kmemdup() copies can pass the remaining COOKIE_ECHO buffer. Reachability requires a listening SCTP endpoint and, for cookie modification, disabled SCTP cookie HMAC; the flaw can disclose memory, corrupt association state, or crash the kernel.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-53246
Published
Jun 25, 2026
Updated
Jun 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux Kernel
Classifications
CWE-787, T1210
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 25, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 25, 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=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0861615c28de668669d748ef4eb913ea9262d13b
  2. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <cc272185c9a9a4b7febc2de52eeaa3d00f19091e
  3. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <edccbf3d63b0a3362bc916ea72edacc1e1ca456a
  4. Affected versionversion=2.6.12

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linux Kernelversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <0861615c28de668669d748ef4eb913ea9262d13b; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <cc272185c9a9a4b7febc2de52eeaa3d00f19091e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <edccbf3d63b0a3362bc916ea72edacc1e1ca456a; version=2.6.12

Published CVSS scores

9.8kernel.orgCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.5Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1210Exploitation of Remote Services

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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