CVE-2026-72417Network attack vector

Kernel memory corruption via unchecked IPv4 header length

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Out-of-bounds access in Linux kernel 6.19 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via malformed IPv4 tunnel headers. nf_flow_ip4_tunnel_proto() uses iph->ihl to compute the tunnel header size and parsing offset without first validating the field, so a short value drives later accesses outside the intended packet bounds. Reachability requires an administrator-configured nftables flowtable ingress hook; crafted packets can trigger kernel memory corruption, an information leak, or a crash.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.55%
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 access in Linux kernel 6.19 allows remote attackers to corrupt kernel memory via malformed IPv4 tunnel headers. nf_flow_ip4_tunnel_proto() uses iph->ihl to compute the tunnel header size and parsing offset without first validating the field, so a short value drives later accesses outside the intended packet bounds. Reachability requires an administrator-configured nftables flowtable ingress hook; crafted packets can trigger kernel memory corruption, an information leak, or a crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-72417
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-125, 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=6.19
  2. Affected versionversion=ab427db17885814069bae891834f20842f0ac3a4 <025a41e76b51fbc7b8eaa5bacbaa9621d00e6aa7
  3. Affected versionversion=ab427db17885814069bae891834f20842f0ac3a4 <84460b644329e25809b4a6d9279d6359d7fd8ebc

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.19; version=ab427db17885814069bae891834f20842f0ac3a4 <025a41e76b51fbc7b8eaa5bacbaa9621d00e6aa7; version=ab427db17885814069bae891834f20842f0ac3a4 <84460b644329e25809b4a6d9279d6359d7fd8ebc

Published CVSS scores

5.9Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.8Linux CNACVSS: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.

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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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
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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