CVE-2026-74268Network attack vector

Kernel interruption via unlocked sock_ops callback

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Race condition in Linux kernel TCP teardown allows remote attackers to interrupt BPF-enabled hosts via failed child-socket setup. A failed tcp_v4_syn_recv_sock or tcp_v6_syn_recv_sock path drops the child lock, yet an inherited BPF_SOCK_OPS_STATE_CB_FLAG makes tcp_done invoke tcp_call_bpf on the unlocked, partially destroyed socket. Reachability requires a listener with a cgroup BPF sock_ops program enabling state callbacks; repeated triggers produce a warning and can cause an oops or panic.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.69%
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 Linux kernel TCP teardown allows remote attackers to interrupt BPF-enabled hosts via failed child-socket setup. A failed tcp_v4_syn_recv_sock or tcp_v6_syn_recv_sock path drops the child lock, yet an inherited BPF_SOCK_OPS_STATE_CB_FLAG makes tcp_done invoke tcp_call_bpf on the unlocked, partially destroyed socket. Reachability requires a listener with a cgroup BPF sock_ops program enabling state callbacks; repeated triggers produce a warning and can cause an oops or panic.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74268
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-362, T1499
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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=4.16
  2. Affected versionversion=d44874910a26f3a8f81edf873a2473363f07f660 <8874dafc9099bc49c2e5ebba030f85d276421f92
  3. Affected versionversion=d44874910a26f3a8f81edf873a2473363f07f660 <990348e5bb457697c2f1f7f7b65154a3334d9d2b
  4. Affected versionversion=d44874910a26f3a8f81edf873a2473363f07f660 <ce311bd2e36596f0aa2c92ca86fb3e019ac57eae

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=4.16; version=d44874910a26f3a8f81edf873a2473363f07f660 <8874dafc9099bc49c2e5ebba030f85d276421f92; version=d44874910a26f3a8f81edf873a2473363f07f660 <990348e5bb457697c2f1f7f7b65154a3334d9d2b; version=d44874910a26f3a8f81edf873a2473363f07f660 <ce311bd2e36596f0aa2c92ca86fb3e019ac57eae

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.2UbuntuCVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:N/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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-362Concurrent Execution using Shared Resource with Improper Synchronization ('Race Condition')
T1499Endpoint Denial of Service

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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