CVE-2026-10722 in ebpf
Summary
by MITRE • 06/03/2026
A vulnerability has been found in cilium ebpf up to 0.21.0. This affects the function loadRawSpec of the file btf/btf.go of the component LoadCollectionSpec/LoadCollectionSpecFromReader. Such manipulation leads to integer overflow. The attack can only be performed from a local environment. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. The name of the patch is 533dfc82fd228bfadf42ea7180c39de7d9af47fa. A patch should be applied to remediate this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2026
The vulnerability identified in Cilium eBPF version 0.21.0 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the loadRawSpec function located in btf/btf.go. This issue specifically impacts the LoadCollectionSpec/LoadCollectionSpecFromReader component, which is fundamental to the eBPF program loading mechanism used by Cilium for network policy enforcement and traffic management. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic during the parsing of BTF (BPF Type Format) data structures, creating a scenario where malicious input can cause integer overflow conditions that may lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the BTF data structures that eBPF programs rely upon for type information and program validation. When the loadRawSpec function processes malformed BTF data, the integer overflow can cause buffer overflows or other memory corruption issues that compromise the integrity of the eBPF loading process. This vulnerability is classified as a CWE-190 - Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness that frequently leads to memory safety issues in systems processing untrusted data. The attack vector is limited to local environments, meaning an attacker must already have access to the system to exploit this vulnerability, but this limitation does not diminish its severity given that local privilege escalation or code execution remains possible.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it affects the core functionality of Cilium's network policy enforcement capabilities. When exploited, the integer overflow can potentially allow an attacker to bypass security controls, manipulate network traffic flows, or gain elevated privileges on systems running vulnerable Cilium versions. This is particularly concerning in containerized environments where Cilium is commonly deployed for network segmentation and security policy enforcement. The vulnerability affects the BTF parsing functionality that is essential for eBPF program verification and loading, making it a critical component that could compromise the entire security posture of systems relying on Cilium for network security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patch application, with the specific fix identified as commit 533dfc82fd228bfadf42ea7180c39de7d9af47fa. Organizations should also implement additional security controls including restricting local access to systems running Cilium, monitoring for unusual BTF data processing activities, and ensuring proper input validation for all BPF-related operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as exploitation could lead to system compromise. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit local access, utilizing process monitoring to detect suspicious BTF parsing activities, and maintaining up-to-date security patches across all eBPF-dependent systems. Regular security assessments of BPF program loading mechanisms should also be conducted to identify potential similar vulnerabilities in the broader eBPF ecosystem.