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CVE-2026-46094NVD status: Analyzed

Linux: Out-of-bounds Read

Published Updated By the CyberSecBulletin desk

CVE-2026-46094 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 ab6da97bc310db35d4e4ef5354bc3ff626b0698c, 5a5314d2387633a272a04d1bd8727f99058e4e68, 537e065977022aa22f2c2503e8accaf16622e0fd 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 0.13% 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 ab6da97bc310db35d4e4ef5354bc3ff626b0698c or 5a5314d2387633a272a04d1bd8727f99058e4e68 or 537e065977022aa22f2c2503e8accaf16622e0fd or 520986722dbf869c122252123fc161c7302eab7d, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
  2. Update Linux Kernel to 6.6.140 or 6.12.86 or 6.18.27 or 7.0.4, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
LinuxLinux3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e up to, but not including, ab6da97bc310db35d4e4ef5354bc3ff626b0698c; 3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e up to, but not including, 5a5314d2387633a272a04d1bd8727f99058e4e68; 3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e up to, but not including, 537e065977022aa22f2c2503e8accaf16622e0fd; 3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e up to, but not including, 520986722dbf869c122252123fc161c7302eab7d; 3478c83cf26bbffd026ae6a56bcb1fe544f0834e up to, but not including, eceafc31ea7b42c984ece10d79d505c0bb6615d5; 6.3ab6da97bc310db35d4e4ef5354bc3ff626b0698c, 5a5314d2387633a272a04d1bd8727f99058e4e68, 537e065977022aa22f2c2503e8accaf16622e0fd, 520986722dbf869c122252123fc161c7302eab7d, eceafc31ea7b42c984ece10d79d505c0bb6615d5
LinuxLinux Kernel6.3 up to, but not including, 6.6.140; 6.7 up to, but not including, 6.12.86; 6.13 up to, but not including, 6.18.27; 6.19 up to, but not including, 7.0.46.6.140, 6.12.86, 6.18.27, 7.0.4

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: ext4: fix bounds check in check_xattrs() to prevent out-of-bounds access The bounds check for the next xattr entry in check_xattrs() uses (void *)next >= end, which allows next to point within sizeof(u32) bytes of end. On the next loop iteration, IS_LAST_ENTRY() reads 4 bytes via *(__u32 *)(entry), which can overrun the valid xattr region. For example, if next lands at end - 1, the check passes since next < end, but IS_LAST_ENTRY() reads 4 bytes starting at end - 1, accessing 3 bytes beyond the valid region. Fix this by changing the check to (void *)next + sizeof(u32) > end, ensuring there is always enough space for the IS_LAST_ENTRY() read on the subsequent iteration.

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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