Kernel memory corruption via unbounded synthetic-field concatenation
Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026
Buffer overflow in Linux kernel tracing allows local users with elevated privileges to corrupt memory through oversized synthetic-field inputs. Synthetic-field helpers append long key lists, field names, or saved filters with raw strcat into fixed MAX_FILTER_STR_VAL staging buffers. Tracing-control privileges are required, and successful triggering overruns memory used while constructing a synthetic variable name or histogram command.
Summary
What happened
Buffer overflow in Linux kernel tracing allows local users with elevated privileges to corrupt memory through oversized synthetic-field inputs. Synthetic-field helpers append long key lists, field names, or saved filters with raw strcat into fixed MAX_FILTER_STR_VAL staging buffers. Tracing-control privileges are required, and successful triggering overruns memory used while constructing a synthetic variable name or histogram command.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74391
- Published
- Aug 15, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 15, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1499
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- admin
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=02205a6752f223779a1b0e9e8ffacbea6e717851 <0c584c27f6649a93ec12061cc779a4bd8f7c1434
- Affected versionversion=02205a6752f223779a1b0e9e8ffacbea6e717851 <88b901fdc1662b131ff908cbd017333b61e7acc8
- Affected versionversion=02205a6752f223779a1b0e9e8ffacbea6e717851 <baa333b2700a7fa3529d504529c8c10060fd687c
- Affected versionversion=02205a6752f223779a1b0e9e8ffacbea6e717851 <cf334620036ad2250e008c7e7bb6646a3938b7b0
- Affected versionversion=02205a6752f223779a1b0e9e8ffacbea6e717851 <f07883450eb14d1cf020b55d9f3a7ec5683bcd26
- Affected versionversion=4.17
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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