CVE-2026-90086

Unrequested offloads via ignored transmit metadata flag

Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 17, 2026

Metadata handling in Linux AF_XDP allows local users to trigger unrequested transmit offloads via zero-copy descriptors. The __xsk_buff_get_metadata helper treats reserved UMEM contents as transmit metadata whenever metadata space exists, without checking the descriptor's XDP_TX_METADATA option. Exposure requires access to an AF_XDP zero-copy transmit path with metadata headroom and a supporting driver; disclosure or privilege escalation is not established.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Oct 20, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Metadata handling in Linux AF_XDP allows local users to trigger unrequested transmit offloads via zero-copy descriptors. The __xsk_buff_get_metadata helper treats reserved UMEM contents as transmit metadata whenever metadata space exists, without checking the descriptor's XDP_TX_METADATA option. Exposure requires access to an AF_XDP zero-copy transmit path with metadata headroom and a supporting driver; disclosure or privilege escalation is not established.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-90086
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Updated
Sep 17, 2026
Vendor
The Linux Kernel Organization
Product
Linux
Classifications
Unavailable
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 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=48eb03dd26304c24f03bdbb9382e89c8564e71df <53a5b262d706b572840cbe8feae392538077ee19
  2. Affected versionversion=48eb03dd26304c24f03bdbb9382e89c8564e71df <a6e4b9a6deb9362ef7a0706c70d674e92fe1411a
  3. Affected versionversion=48eb03dd26304c24f03bdbb9382e89c8564e71df <bf9387488d6394845076928c6ca5315ce5d84f54
  4. Affected versionversion=6.8

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

The Linux Kernel Organization · Linuxversion=48eb03dd26304c24f03bdbb9382e89c8564e71df <53a5b262d706b572840cbe8feae392538077ee19; version=48eb03dd26304c24f03bdbb9382e89c8564e71df <a6e4b9a6deb9362ef7a0706c70d674e92fe1411a; version=48eb03dd26304c24f03bdbb9382e89c8564e71df <bf9387488d6394845076928c6ca5315ce5d84f54; version=6.8

Published CVSS scores

3.3Amazon LinuxCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N

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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

No sourced classifications are available.

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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