Kernel compromise via mixed socket-buffer fragments
Published Aug 22, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026
Type confusion in Linux kernel 6.16 allows local users to compromise kernel memory or crash the system through crafted TCP sends. zerocopy_fill_skb_from_devmem() permits net_iov and page-backed fragments in one socket buffer, while downstream fragment walkers assume a single backing type. Exploitation requires a netmem_tx-capable NIC, zero-copy TCP, a DMA-BUF binding, and low-privilege local access capable of obtaining CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user namespace.
Summary
What happened
Type confusion in Linux kernel 6.16 allows local users to compromise kernel memory or crash the system through crafted TCP sends. zerocopy_fill_skb_from_devmem() permits net_iov and page-backed fragments in one socket buffer, while downstream fragment walkers assume a single backing type. Exploitation requires a netmem_tx-capable NIC, zero-copy TCP, a DMA-BUF binding, and low-privilege local access capable of obtaining CAP_NET_ADMIN in a user namespace.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-74627
- Published
- Aug 22, 2026
- Updated
- Aug 25, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- CWE-843, T1068, T1499.004
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Aug 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Aug 25, 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=6.16
- Affected versionversion=bd61848900bff597764238f3a8ec67c815cd316e <53a43508ee332d8bffe40590c3d189c92a551f9f
- Affected versionversion=bd61848900bff597764238f3a8ec67c815cd316e <e9bfe12b1d04c34c6fedcba21d9709b65c08aa33
- Affected versionversion=bd61848900bff597764238f3a8ec67c815cd316e <ed08011ae0be88f16cceae190535d6c790c83b0c
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
Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
No public exploit references are available in this record.
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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