Linux · Kernel
CVE-2026-46300
net: skbuff: preserve shared-frag marker during coalescing
What it is
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved:
net: skbuff: preserve shared-frag marker during coalescing
skb_try_coalesce() can attach paged frags from @from to @to. If @from
has SKBFL_SHARED_FRAG set, the resulting @to skb can contain the same
externally-owned or page-cache-backed frags, but the shared-frag marker
is currently lost.
That breaks the invariant relied on by later in-place writers. In
particular, ESP input checks skb_has_shared_frag() before deciding
whether an uncloned nonlinear skb can skip skb_cow_data(). If TCP
receive coalescing has moved shared frags into an unmarked skb, ESP can
see skb_has_shared_frag() as false and decrypt in place over page-cache
backed frags.
Propagate SKBFL_SHARED_FRAG when skb_try_coalesce() transfers paged
frags. The tailroom copy path does not need the marker because it copies
bytes into @to's linear data rather than transferring frag descriptors.
CISA: Linux Kernel contains a missing initialization of a variable vulnerability that could allow for unintended modification of page-cache-backed data via failure to preserve the shared-fragment marker during socket buffer coalescing, causing ESP input processing to decrypt shared fragments in place. This vulnerability can be chained with CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619 to implant PHP webshells and run commands as root.
What to do
Apply mitigations in accordance with vendor instructions, ensuring compliance with CISA’s BOD 26-04 Prioritizing Security Updates Based on Risk (see URL in Notes) guidance and CISA’s “Forensics Triage Requirements” (see URL in Notes). Follow applicable BOD 26-04 guidance for cloud services or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable. Stakeholders are responsible for evaluating each asset's internet exposure and ensuring adherence to BOD 26-04 patching guidelines.
Deadline for US federal agencies: October 31, 2026
- Added to the CISA list
- October 28, 2026
- Published
- May 23, 2026
- Severity
- High 7.8 CVSS 3.1
- Chance of attacks in the next 30 days (EPSS)
- 10% in the top 4.3% of all known vulnerabilities
- Weakness
- CWE-456
- More details
- NVD · CVE.org · CISA
All references (8)
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3599e6b3cc1ada96883d496a50a210d3afbb6987
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/2f2b16022a2e10ca7bccfb98db5ed2ec0f72641c
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/9d3e5fd19fe1063bf607219e8562fbd567b8e8d5
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/78bf6b6bb19541d19fbda6242e7cfe2c682763c0
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/760e1addc27ba1a7beb4a0a7e8b3e9ec49e7a34e
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3bd9e113d50034db99d7ef69fd8e5242d15e414a
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/3884358a9286b17f389a72b1426fc4547c23c111
- https://git.kernel.org/stable/c/f84eca5817390257cef78013d0112481c503b4a3
More exploited flaws from Linux
| Added | Vulnerability | Product | Severity | Attack chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 18, 2026 | Improper Check for Unusual or Exceptional Conditions | Kernel | Critical 9.8 | 3.3% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Race Condition | Kernel | High 7.8 | 1.6% |
| Sep 18, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Write | Kernel | High 8.8 | 0.9% |
| Aug 27, 2026 | Unspecified | Kernel | High 7.8 | 0.7% |
| Aug 26, 2026 | Out-of-Bounds Write | Kernel | High 7.8 | 8.9% |
| Jun 2, 2026 | Improper Authentication | Kernel | High 7.8 | 5.5% |
| May 1, 2026 | Incorrect Resource Transfer Between Spheres | Kernel | High 7.8 | 98% |
| Jan 26, 2026 | Integer Overflow | Kernel | High 7.8 | 15% |
Sources: Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (CISA, public domain), CVE records (cve.org) and EPSS (FIRST). The chance of attacks is the EPSS estimate that someone will try to exploit the flaw in the next 30 days.