CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2026-43281NVD status: Modified

Linux: Out-of-bounds Read

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-43281 is a high-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Linux, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.1 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 2c7ff651ec6b660c7c96a36db9328b3232f555d8, ec0874447895b994182a962d2fee9ef075de5efd, 2662ed331a69c0b551f78af58f12eb629a89a36f as the first without the flaw, so updating Linux to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.12% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Linux to 2c7ff651ec6b660c7c96a36db9328b3232f555d8 or ec0874447895b994182a962d2fee9ef075de5efd or 2662ed331a69c0b551f78af58f12eb629a89a36f or 31c4c67dec3362094a6747a171a4848e98542265, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Linux Kernel to 6.1.167 or 6.6.130 or 6.12.77 or 6.18.16, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinux2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, 2c7ff651ec6b660c7c96a36db9328b3232f555d8; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, ec0874447895b994182a962d2fee9ef075de5efd; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, 2662ed331a69c0b551f78af58f12eb629a89a36f; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, 31c4c67dec3362094a6747a171a4848e98542265; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, 01d9a8c2615d436b2b30c19c1afe9fcd5726ff6d; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, 4caae8168d1b808c7d4ff481295292e3f97f90fb; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, f50b39fd7c72a8734153644ee945ca0d8b2e65ab; 2b6d83e2b8b7de82331a6a1dcd64b51020a6031c up to, but not including, fcd7f96c783626c07ee3ed75fa3739a8a2052310; and 1 more ranges2c7ff651ec6b660c7c96a36db9328b3232f555d8, ec0874447895b994182a962d2fee9ef075de5efd, 2662ed331a69c0b551f78af58f12eb629a89a36f, 31c4c67dec3362094a6747a171a4848e98542265, 01d9a8c2615d436b2b30c19c1afe9fcd5726ff6d, 4caae8168d1b808c7d4ff481295292e3f97f90fb
LinuxLinux Kernel3.18.1 up to, but not including, 6.1.167; 6.2 up to, but not including, 6.6.130; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.12.77; 6.13 up to, but not including, 6.18.16; 6.19 up to, but not including, 6.19.6; 3.186.1.167, 6.6.130, 6.12.77, 6.18.16, 6.19.6

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Official description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: mailbox: Prevent out-of-bounds access in fw_mbox_index_xlate() Although it is guided that `#mbox-cells` must be at least 1, there are many instances of `#mbox-cells = <0>;` in the device tree. If that is the case and the corresponding mailbox controller does not provide `fw_xlate` and of_xlate` function pointers, `fw_mbox_index_xlate()` will be used by default and out-of-bounds accesses could occur due to lack of bounds check in that function.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read

The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.

More Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities (CWE-125)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities

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