CVE-2026-74443

Privilege escalation via undersized DMA command body

Published Aug 15, 2026 · Updated Aug 15, 2026

Buffer underwrite in the Linux vmwgfx driver allows local users to gain elevated access via crafted DMA command batches. The vmw_cmd_dma() function subtracts the suffix size from an unchecked undersized header, underflowing into the prior bounce-buffer command; a later maximumOffset write then changes authenticated GMR, surface, or DMA-bound fields after verification. Access requires a VMware guest with vmwgfx active and permission to open a DRM card or render node, after which command rewriting enables memory reads, writes, or a guest crash.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.13%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer underwrite in the Linux vmwgfx driver allows local users to gain elevated access via crafted DMA command batches. The vmw_cmd_dma() function subtracts the suffix size from an unchecked undersized header, underflowing into the prior bounce-buffer command; a later maximumOffset write then changes authenticated GMR, surface, or DMA-bound fields after verification. Access requires a VMware guest with vmwgfx active and permission to open a DRM card or render node, after which command rewriting enables memory reads, writes, or a guest crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74443
Published
Aug 15, 2026
Updated
Aug 15, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-124, 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=2.6.33
  2. Affected versionversion=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <036e16ada95389bdc30f41068af04c1d0872fad0
  3. Affected versionversion=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <7e40e6120fb232a10b543ffd994e5c6d8f3a2cc6
  4. Affected versionversion=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <9759da60e38d7b9db44dc92713e4e0391883d221
  5. Affected versionversion=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <d5d7ada4e1296b00d89fe82b2ca850cc7809d6f7
  6. Affected versionversion=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <f4f1db96bfd68b81053693ba53405b6f510ac16c

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=2.6.33; version=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <036e16ada95389bdc30f41068af04c1d0872fad0; version=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <7e40e6120fb232a10b543ffd994e5c6d8f3a2cc6; version=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <9759da60e38d7b9db44dc92713e4e0391883d221; version=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <d5d7ada4e1296b00d89fe82b2ca850cc7809d6f7; version=4e4ddd47774313accc86b233d6ca2c6a9037a671 <f4f1db96bfd68b81053693ba53405b6f510ac16c

Published CVSS scores

7.0Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
8.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/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-124Buffer Underwrite ('Buffer Underflow')
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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