CVE-2026-74695Network attack vector

Denial of service via leaked destination references

Published Aug 22, 2026 · Updated Aug 25, 2026

Reference-count leak in Linux kernel 4.18 and later affected branches allows remote attackers to exhaust resources via packet flows. In nf_flow_offload_ip_hook, skb_dst_set_noref() overwrites a ref-counted skb->_skb_refdst without first releasing the existing dst_entry. Reachability requires traffic to traverse a netfilter flowtable offload hook or XFRM offload path with a preassigned destination; repeated leaks can destabilize the kernel and interrupt service.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reference-count leak in Linux kernel 4.18 and later affected branches allows remote attackers to exhaust resources via packet flows. In nf_flow_offload_ip_hook, skb_dst_set_noref() overwrites a ref-counted skb->_skb_refdst without first releasing the existing dst_entry. Reachability requires traffic to traverse a netfilter flowtable offload hook or XFRM offload path with a preassigned destination; repeated leaks can destabilize the kernel and interrupt service.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74695
Published
Aug 22, 2026
Updated
Aug 25, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-911, T1499
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 25, 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=209dedf806d31095968f54323dbe62525b077b33
  2. Affected versionversion=2a79fd3908acd88e6cb0e620c314d7b1fee56a02 <12afa450a6a6c0cce2c42b7545a9958f62d8a00c
  3. Affected versionversion=2a79fd3908acd88e6cb0e620c314d7b1fee56a02 <538e67e8c7889cf5f93951f5309d1bcb41f86036
  4. Affected versionversion=2a79fd3908acd88e6cb0e620c314d7b1fee56a02 <8aecf0bbcc72605592134c917c222207d8f63ab0
  5. Affected versionversion=4.16.15 <4.17
  6. Affected versionversion=4.17.1 <4.18
  7. Affected versionversion=4.18
  8. Affected versionversion=b4b1adf2e66ecc7125c4117e7aad9ff61e2cfd27

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=209dedf806d31095968f54323dbe62525b077b33; version=2a79fd3908acd88e6cb0e620c314d7b1fee56a02 <12afa450a6a6c0cce2c42b7545a9958f62d8a00c; version=2a79fd3908acd88e6cb0e620c314d7b1fee56a02 <538e67e8c7889cf5f93951f5309d1bcb41f86036; version=2a79fd3908acd88e6cb0e620c314d7b1fee56a02 <8aecf0bbcc72605592134c917c222207d8f63ab0; version=4.16.15 <4.17; version=4.17.1 <4.18; version=4.18; version=b4b1adf2e66ecc7125c4117e7aad9ff61e2cfd27

Published CVSS scores

7.5Linux CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/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.

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-911Improper Update of Reference Count
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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