CVE-2026-68480Public exploit

Kernel data disclosure via interruptible Safe-RET sequence

Published Aug 6, 2026 · Updated Aug 6, 2026

Speculative-execution flaw in Linux Safe-RET allows local users to read sensitive kernel data by injecting precisely timed interrupts. An interrupt between Safe-RET's CALL and RET destroys its protected predictor state, letting the resumed RET speculate through an attacker-trained target. The flaw requires affected AMD Zen hardware, local code execution, and the Safe-RET SRSO mitigation; successful abuse discloses kernel memory.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Speculative-execution flaw in Linux Safe-RET allows local users to read sensitive kernel data by injecting precisely timed interrupts. An interrupt between Safe-RET's CALL and RET destroys its protected predictor state, letting the resumed RET speculate through an attacker-trained target. The flaw requires affected AMD Zen hardware, local code execution, and the Safe-RET SRSO mitigation; successful abuse discloses kernel memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-68480
Published
Aug 6, 2026
Updated
Aug 6, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-201, T1005
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 6, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 6, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=0 <5.10.263
  2. Affected versionversion=0 <5.15.214
  3. Affected versionversion=0 <6.1.181
  4. Affected versionversion=0 <6.18.43
  5. Affected versionversion=0 <6.6.149
  6. Affected versionversion=0 <7.1.7
  7. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <608c8f5dccaaf8b8d2b28c0fbdd439d144be62b0
  8. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <61649a2d61cb0dbc673f0f232f0f0c298bf50442
  9. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <95b08cdd603fe79d2e9d5212fbb13d577c835f4f
  10. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9c0b8105e919be5208c81d5516a194a28c58fe1e
  11. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9de1a49e8f1fbf7c372902573a27a97d4ab4d0af
  12. Affected versionversion=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bfe7f9993467ba431b2731437949ac1e2634e771

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=0 <5.10.263; version=0 <5.15.214; version=0 <6.1.181; version=0 <6.18.43; version=0 <6.6.149; version=0 <7.1.7; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <608c8f5dccaaf8b8d2b28c0fbdd439d144be62b0; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <61649a2d61cb0dbc673f0f232f0f0c298bf50442; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <95b08cdd603fe79d2e9d5212fbb13d577c835f4f; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9c0b8105e919be5208c81d5516a194a28c58fe1e; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <9de1a49e8f1fbf7c372902573a27a97d4ab4d0af; version=1da177e4c3f41524e886b7f1b8a0c1fc7321cac2 <bfe7f9993467ba431b2731437949ac1e2634e771

Published CVSS scores

8.8Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8OracleCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-201Insertion of Sensitive Information Into Sent Data
T1005Data from Local System

Public exploit references

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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