Kernel memory exposure and crash via header wraparound
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Out-of-range pointer offset in the Linux kernel allows local users to expose kernel memory or crash the system via IPv6 fragments. nf_ct_frag6_reasm() removes the IPv6 fragment header, then adds eight to an unset u16 mac_header sentinel, wrapping it to 7 and making headroom appear to contain a valid link-layer header. The affected NF_INET_LOCAL_OUT path requires low-privileged local access; later use of the invalid pointer exposes memory or terminates the kernel.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-range pointer offset in the Linux kernel allows local users to expose kernel memory or crash the system via IPv6 fragments. nf_ct_frag6_reasm() removes the IPv6 fragment header, then adds eight to an unset u16 mac_header sentinel, wrapping it to 7 and making headroom appear to contain a valid link-layer header. The affected NF_INET_LOCAL_OUT path requires low-privileged local access; later use of the invalid pointer exposes memory or terminates the kernel.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-72250
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-823, T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
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?
Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.
- Affected versionversion=2.6.15
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <00bdce2fda7e430d24cfbc96764a1b96deb31f82
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <2a95ec21824a8ad81ad660b12231456fc0ac9830
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <3b08fed5b7e0d5e3a25d73ef3ba09cd33ade16c9
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <53ef70a315420ed31581d38343684b3bf9a3c76d
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <6e8cd710ca35c576f5f2e5a396047c9ac61f75e5
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <a58230f3a7c4f6c3261786bc1efb72c42e68cd25
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <bbcdef2061b170af45702ce6b359c02c12acfc94
- Affected versionversion=9fb9cbb1082d6b31fb45aa1a14432449a0df6cf1 <cd0d7bbc027b4d3329712cdcdeb4e5567ffd0d58
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.
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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