CVE-2026-72235

Kernel memory corruption via stale Ethernet header

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Use-after-free in the batman-adv receive path in Linux allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via crafted mesh frames. In batadv_interface_rx(), pskb_may_pull() can reallocate the socket buffer, but the Ethernet-header pointer is not refreshed before TT and AP-isolation processing. An unauthenticated adjacent mesh peer can trigger stale-header reads and copies when batman-adv is active, enabling memory disclosure, data hijacking, or a kernel panic.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.34%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the batman-adv receive path in Linux allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via crafted mesh frames. In batadv_interface_rx(), pskb_may_pull() can reallocate the socket buffer, but the Ethernet-header pointer is not refreshed before TT and AP-isolation processing. An unauthenticated adjacent mesh peer can trigger stale-header reads and copies when batman-adv is active, enabling memory disclosure, data hijacking, or a kernel panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72235
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825
Attack vector
adjacent
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=2.6.38
  2. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <035e1fed892d3d06002a73ff73668f618a514644
  3. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <2cefa5141cab8ec1e4b24cf585958b13f2e3049d
  4. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6abf73589bed3f27ee240c08108feb72bed0b9c6
  5. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6e189f14d1ea28db212b9d70a02131a7ce518012
  6. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <85a71a81854e0e191ad0e533eabb4eff54866feb
  7. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <a1820344b180cb55af748f102bc536b5c93164db
  8. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <b031fc97e1993d29d6c3a0e86a99140528cf31e8
  9. Affected versionversion=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <f19259395b44af67f3c274e34237c295b526b859

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectoradjacent
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.38; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <035e1fed892d3d06002a73ff73668f618a514644; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <2cefa5141cab8ec1e4b24cf585958b13f2e3049d; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6abf73589bed3f27ee240c08108feb72bed0b9c6; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <6e189f14d1ea28db212b9d70a02131a7ce518012; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <85a71a81854e0e191ad0e533eabb4eff54866feb; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <a1820344b180cb55af748f102bc536b5c93164db; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <b031fc97e1993d29d6c3a0e86a99140528cf31e8; version=c6c8fea29769d998d94fcec9b9f14d4b52b349d3 <f19259395b44af67f3c274e34237c295b526b859

Published CVSS scores

8.8Linux Kernel CNACVSS:3.1/AV:A/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.

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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)
Vectoradjacent
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-825Expired Pointer Dereference

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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