Local privilege escalation via BPF verifier type confusion
Published Sep 17, 2026 · Updated Sep 18, 2026
Type confusion in the Linux kernel BPF verifier from 6.15 allows local users to gain kernel privileges through a crafted BPF program. In check_atomic_load(), check_load_mem() overwrites the source-register pointer type before atomic_ptr_type_ok() validates it, leaving raw sk_buff bytes typed as a socket pointer. Reaching the flaw requires unprivileged BPF support or delegated CAP_BPF; exploitation can read or alter kernel memory or crash the host.
Summary
What happened
Type confusion in the Linux kernel BPF verifier from 6.15 allows local users to gain kernel privileges through a crafted BPF program. In check_atomic_load(), check_load_mem() overwrites the source-register pointer type before atomic_ptr_type_ok() validates it, leaving raw sk_buff bytes typed as a socket pointer. Reaching the flaw requires unprivileged BPF support or delegated CAP_BPF; exploitation can read or alter kernel memory or crash the host.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-90312
- Published
- Sep 17, 2026
- Updated
- Sep 18, 2026
- Vendor
- The Linux Kernel Organization
- Product
- Linux
- Classifications
- T1068
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- authenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Sep 17, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Sep 18, 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=6.15
- Affected versionversion=c03bb2fa327e4c25d6c5360a8803a4b1cdc2d0b9 <422a416041172af1ac610736d5f556d22b31b115
- Affected versionversion=c03bb2fa327e4c25d6c5360a8803a4b1cdc2d0b9 <6ee7b00888498cf387dd30729e18a05328b94709
- Affected versionversion=c03bb2fa327e4c25d6c5360a8803a4b1cdc2d0b9 <b87803391baa7e0bef60549d8841f12e549ad057
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
What attackers are doing with it
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Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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