CVE-2026-74709

Unintended timestamp writes via mutable metadata flags

Published Aug 22, 2026 · Updated Aug 22, 2026

Race condition in the Linux kernel allows local users to cause unintended timestamp writes in AF_XDP packet metadata. On the mlx5 multi-packet WQE path, xsk_tx_metadata_request() evaluates metadata once per batch and clears only the session-starting descriptor's pointer, while completion rereads mutable flags for later descriptors. The condition requires local AF_XDP use with mlx5 multi-packet WQEs; writes remain inside the metadata area, and single-WQE, other zero-copy, and generic paths are unaffected.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.17%
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 the Linux kernel allows local users to cause unintended timestamp writes in AF_XDP packet metadata. On the mlx5 multi-packet WQE path, xsk_tx_metadata_request() evaluates metadata once per batch and clears only the session-starting descriptor's pointer, while completion rereads mutable flags for later descriptors. The condition requires local AF_XDP use with mlx5 multi-packet WQEs; writes remain inside the metadata area, and single-WQE, other zero-copy, and generic paths are unaffected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-74709
Published
Aug 22, 2026
Updated
Aug 22, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-367
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 22, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 22, 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=6.14.2 <6.15
  2. Affected versionversion=6.15
  3. Affected versionversion=ca4419f15abd19ba8be1e109661b60f9f5b6c9f0 <0ba2e1eb07a826d021344e2f146b6716c58139eb
  4. Affected versionversion=ca4419f15abd19ba8be1e109661b60f9f5b6c9f0 <9f60a67df8d3c862503bee62bada8e7089cba438
  5. Affected versionversion=ca4419f15abd19ba8be1e109661b60f9f5b6c9f0 <eb4c613d4ebc3f664e70d572b8867ba114a8754e
  6. Affected versionversion=d9d736c416c9a85f84e15435ba82a177262e745b

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.14.2 <6.15; version=6.15; version=ca4419f15abd19ba8be1e109661b60f9f5b6c9f0 <0ba2e1eb07a826d021344e2f146b6716c58139eb; version=ca4419f15abd19ba8be1e109661b60f9f5b6c9f0 <9f60a67df8d3c862503bee62bada8e7089cba438; version=ca4419f15abd19ba8be1e109661b60f9f5b6c9f0 <eb4c613d4ebc3f664e70d572b8867ba114a8754e; version=d9d736c416c9a85f84e15435ba82a177262e745b

Published CVSS scores

5.5Red HatCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/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.

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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-367Time-of-check Time-of-use (TOCTOU) Race Condition

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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