CVE-2026-80519Network attack vector

Kernel code execution via premature peer release

Published Aug 26, 2026 · Updated Aug 26, 2026

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ovpn module allows remote attackers to execute kernel code via crafted OpenVPN DATA_V2 traffic. In drivers/net/ovpn/io.c, crypto completion callbacks drop the peer reference before releasing the key slot and any remaining skb, allowing RCU work to outlive the netdev and module text. An internet-facing host must already run ovpn DCO; racing peer teardown can expose or overwrite kernel memory, hijack control flow, or panic the host.

CVSS severity9.8
Critical
EPSS probability0.45%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the Linux kernel ovpn module allows remote attackers to execute kernel code via crafted OpenVPN DATA_V2 traffic. In drivers/net/ovpn/io.c, crypto completion callbacks drop the peer reference before releasing the key slot and any remaining skb, allowing RCU work to outlive the netdev and module text. An internet-facing host must already run ovpn DCO; racing peer teardown can expose or overwrite kernel memory, hijack control flow, or panic the host.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-80519
Published
Aug 26, 2026
Updated
Aug 26, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
CWE-825, CWE-416, T1190
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 26, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 26, 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=6.16
  2. Affected versionversion=8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <4b0de8be288f5fbec5d8ee64ed4e8b14bf19b517
  3. Affected versionversion=8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <9e163917a86c6adfbe150e13f4c73653a54616de
  4. Affected versionversion=8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <a3a676495c6419e0cca04d6a67227604e92a3d5a

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=6.16; version=8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <4b0de8be288f5fbec5d8ee64ed4e8b14bf19b517; version=8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <9e163917a86c6adfbe150e13f4c73653a54616de; version=8534731dbf2d52a539b94defd06d2a8d3514aacb <a3a676495c6419e0cca04d6a67227604e92a3d5a

Published CVSS scores

9.8Linux kernel CVE teamCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.7Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/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.

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-825Expired Pointer Dereference
CWE-416Use After Free
T1190Exploit Public-Facing Application

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

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