Linux Kernel up to 6.18.18/6.19.8 net-shapers genlmsg_reply privilege escalation

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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6.5$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.18/6.19.8 and classified as critical. This affects the function genlmsg_reply of the component net-shapers. This manipulation causes an unknown weakness. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2026-43481. There is not any exploit available. The affected component should be upgraded.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability has been found in Linux Kernel up to 6.18.18/6.19.8 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is the function genlmsg_reply of the component net-shapers. The impact remains unknown. The summary by CVE is:

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net-shapers: don't free reply skb after genlmsg_reply() genlmsg_reply() hands the reply skb to netlink, and netlink_unicast() consumes it on all return paths, whether the skb is queued successfully or freed on an error path. net_shaper_nl_get_doit() and net_shaper_nl_cap_get_doit() currently jump to free_msg after genlmsg_reply() fails and call nlmsg_free(msg), which can hit the same skb twice. Return the genlmsg_reply() error directly and keep free_msg only for pre-reply failures.

The advisory is shared at git.kernel.org. This vulnerability is known as CVE-2026-43481 since 05/01/2026. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. The price for an exploit might be around USD $0-$5k at the moment (estimation calculated on 07/23/2026).

Upgrading to version 6.18.19 or 6.19.9 eliminates this vulnerability. Applying the patch 8738dcc844fff7d0157ee775230e95df3b1884d7/83f7b54242d0abbfce35a55c01322f50962ed3ee/57885276cc16a2e2b76282c808a4e84cbecb3aae is able to eliminate this problem. The bugfix is ready for download at git.kernel.org. The best possible mitigation is suggested to be upgrading to the latest version.

The vulnerability is also documented in the vulnerability database at CERT Bund (WID-SEC-2026-1531). If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

Affected

  • Google Container-Optimized OS
  • Debian Linux
  • SUSE Linux
  • Oracle Linux
  • Open Source Linux Kernel
  • Ubuntu Linux

Productinfo

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Version

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 6.6
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.5

VulDB Base Score: 5.5
VulDB Temp Score: 5.3
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CNA Base Score: 7.8
CNA Vector (Linux): 🔒

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Privilege escalation
CWE: Unknown
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially

Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔒
EPSS Percentile: 🔒

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒

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Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔒

Upgrade: Kernel 6.18.19/6.19.9
Patch: 8738dcc844fff7d0157ee775230e95df3b1884d7/83f7b54242d0abbfce35a55c01322f50962ed3ee/57885276cc16a2e2b76282c808a4e84cbecb3aae

Timelineinfo

05/01/2026 CVE reserved
05/13/2026 +12 days Advisory disclosed
05/13/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
07/23/2026 +70 days VulDB entry last update

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: kernel.org

Advisory: git.kernel.org
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2026-43481 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-43481
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-363541
CERT Bund: WID-SEC-2026-1531 - Linux Kernel: Mehrere Schwachstellen

Entryinfo

Created: 05/13/2026 17:38
Updated: 07/23/2026 01:29
Changes: 05/13/2026 17:38 (58), 05/17/2026 17:19 (7), 05/21/2026 04:35 (11), 07/23/2026 01:29 (1)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.

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