CVE-2026-72019

Kernel heap disclosure via unset MAC header

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Out-of-bounds read in Linux MACsec 4.6 through 7.1.4 allows local users to disclose kernel heap data via crafted raw frames. macsec_encrypt() calls eth_hdr() with an unset skb MAC-header offset and moves 12 bytes from beyond the heap buffer into outgoing Ethernet addresses. Reaching the path requires raw-packet and network-administration capabilities; the resulting frame leaks those bytes, and the invalid read can also cause a kernel oops or panic.

CVSS severity7.3
High
EPSS probability0.17%
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 read in Linux MACsec 4.6 through 7.1.4 allows local users to disclose kernel heap data via crafted raw frames. macsec_encrypt() calls eth_hdr() with an unset skb MAC-header offset and moves 12 bytes from beyond the heap buffer into outgoing Ethernet addresses. Reaching the path requires raw-packet and network-administration capabilities; the resulting frame leaks those bytes, and the invalid read can also cause a kernel oops or panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72019
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 15, 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=4.6
  2. Affected versionversion=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <2cf10d042562283ff4ae97c02d0993d4f1b5ea29
  3. Affected versionversion=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <c39087ad0b97fc11a3b058dfc8db9fd370762cb9
  4. Affected versionversion=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <dc9ffa1905e72f026d080880a2e4cfc42aa91000
  5. Affected versionversion=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <e17a42199824973cd8212e95b21ffadf4114a21b
  6. Affected versionversion=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <f21fa533a3ed15ada74106aac4b9ddd078fc6b7a
  7. Affected versionversion=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <f5089008f90c0a7c5520dff3934e0af00adf322d

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.6; version=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <2cf10d042562283ff4ae97c02d0993d4f1b5ea29; version=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <c39087ad0b97fc11a3b058dfc8db9fd370762cb9; version=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <dc9ffa1905e72f026d080880a2e4cfc42aa91000; version=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <e17a42199824973cd8212e95b21ffadf4114a21b; version=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <f21fa533a3ed15ada74106aac4b9ddd078fc6b7a; version=c09440f7dcb304002dfced8c0fea289eb25f2da0 <f5089008f90c0a7c5520dff3934e0af00adf322d

Published CVSS scores

7.3Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:L/A:H
5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-125Out-of-bounds Read
T1499.004Endpoint Denial of Service: Application or System Exploitation

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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