CVE-2026-74262

Local privilege escalation via KCM callback race

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Race condition in the Linux kernel 4.6 and later allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent KCM socket operations. The kcm_attach() and kcm_unattach() paths update live TCP callback pointers with plain stores while other CPUs can read and invoke them. Low-privileged local access and concurrent attach, detach, and network activity are required; a stale callback can disclose or corrupt kernel data, crash the kernel, or elevate privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.14%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Race condition in the Linux kernel 4.6 and later allows local users to corrupt kernel memory through concurrent KCM socket operations. The kcm_attach() and kcm_unattach() paths update live TCP callback pointers with plain stores while other CPUs can read and invoke them. Low-privileged local access and concurrent attach, detach, and network activity are required; a stale callback can disclose or corrupt kernel data, crash the kernel, or elevate privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74262
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-362, CAPEC-26, T1068
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

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=4.6
  2. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <0cb3e2f40679032c1aa2186280a86e5ead0161ee
  3. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <11faefd11ce2448bac7279ab302dd1954a6547fe
  4. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <47186409c092cd7dd70350999186c700233e854d
  5. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <9684fff87124b201e11dea01ded9173025359a0f
  6. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <b4ccd6eef671d7c44a30123cd29f3acf3de8468e
  7. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <b8c90823cdfb5f3d22f261aeb3e9066612853c36
  8. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <f01fb6138f8eb606b56ce9158e2d8b72352c53f4
  9. Affected versionversion=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <fa26e4606aed0f7fe793c325506adeda1d847a43

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.6; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <0cb3e2f40679032c1aa2186280a86e5ead0161ee; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <11faefd11ce2448bac7279ab302dd1954a6547fe; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <47186409c092cd7dd70350999186c700233e854d; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <9684fff87124b201e11dea01ded9173025359a0f; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <b4ccd6eef671d7c44a30123cd29f3acf3de8468e; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <b8c90823cdfb5f3d22f261aeb3e9066612853c36; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <f01fb6138f8eb606b56ce9158e2d8b72352c53f4; version=ab7ac4eb9832e32a09f4e8042705484d2fb0aad3 <fa26e4606aed0f7fe793c325506adeda1d847a43

Published CVSS scores

7.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
CAPEC-26Leveraging Race Conditions
T1068Exploitation for Privilege Escalation

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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