CVE-2026-72046Network attack vector

Network degradation via misindexed packet header buffers

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Improper buffer indexing in the Linux kernel gve driver allows remote attackers to corrupt packet headers through concurrent TCP flows. The DQO receive path posts header addresses by queue position but reads them by completion position, allowing out-of-order completions to select or reuse the wrong buffer slot. Affected systems must use a GVE interface with header-split and HW-GRO enabled; consequences include retransmissions, throughput loss, packet corruption, and network unavailability.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.62%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper buffer indexing in the Linux kernel gve driver allows remote attackers to corrupt packet headers through concurrent TCP flows. The DQO receive path posts header addresses by queue position but reads them by completion position, allowing out-of-order completions to select or reuse the wrong buffer slot. Affected systems must use a GVE interface with header-split and HW-GRO enabled; consequences include retransmissions, throughput loss, packet corruption, and network unavailability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72046
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-1285, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

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

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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=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <35267819b25074084130b6a7be18bbaf44d3ae74
  2. Affected versionversion=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <84d3753d4bf284ef770ead6dee2270aaabb3ef41
  3. Affected versionversion=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <9f8e7f59b0c2f466be74bd923726b0f5496c27ad
  4. Affected versionversion=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <d676c9a73bdcd8237425dbb826f2bd1a25c36e40
  5. Affected versionversion=6.9

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <35267819b25074084130b6a7be18bbaf44d3ae74; version=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <84d3753d4bf284ef770ead6dee2270aaabb3ef41; version=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <9f8e7f59b0c2f466be74bd923726b0f5496c27ad; version=5e37d8254e7f551dda62e7590e819d69c7491845 <d676c9a73bdcd8237425dbb826f2bd1a25c36e40; version=6.9

Published CVSS scores

5.6Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8Linux Kernel CVE TeamCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-1285Improper Validation of Specified Index, Position, or Offset in Input
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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