Kernel memory disclosure via undersized multicast tracker header
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Out-of-bounds read in batman-adv multicast forwarding in Linux allows adjacent attackers to disclose kernel memory via a malformed mesh packet. The multicast tracker handler uses offsetof() instead of a whole-header size check, so a zero- or one-byte TVLV payload passes validation before the two-byte num_dests field is read. The target must run an affected kernel with an active batman-adv mesh and multicast optimization; triggering the read can also cause a kernel oops or panic and interrupt mesh service.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds read in batman-adv multicast forwarding in Linux allows adjacent attackers to disclose kernel memory via a malformed mesh packet. The multicast tracker handler uses offsetof() instead of a whole-header size check, so a zero- or one-byte TVLV payload passes validation before the two-byte num_dests field is read. The target must run an affected kernel with an active batman-adv mesh and multicast optimization; triggering the read can also cause a kernel oops or panic and interrupt mesh service.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-72227
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499.004
- Attack vector
- adjacent
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 15, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=07afe1ba288c04280622fa002ed385f1ac0b6fe6 <38eaed28e250895d56f4b7989bd65479a511c5c3
- Affected versionversion=07afe1ba288c04280622fa002ed385f1ac0b6fe6 <7d1a877670bc2e901241073f022ca8d1b2f85f1c
- Affected versionversion=07afe1ba288c04280622fa002ed385f1ac0b6fe6 <80f62893d135f415e7a374dd47b468ec298f7aed
- Affected versionversion=07afe1ba288c04280622fa002ed385f1ac0b6fe6 <d2b657c9653fcebca828a2ead13f444e0da68817
- Affected versionversion=6.8
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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