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VulnerabilityPublished Updated

CVE-2026-23406: Linux kernel · apparmor: fix side-effect bug in match_char() macro usage

Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database

0

Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in 5.4.0-1156.166~18.04.1 : patch Linux kernel soon.

Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 12:55 UTC

CVSS 3.1 base score
7.8High
How severe the flaw is on the 0–10 CVSS scale.
EPSS
0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 7% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
Patch
Available – fixed in 5.4.0-1156.166~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1161.167~18.04.1, 5.4.0-1159.168~18.04.1 +92
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Exploitation evidence

  1. Disclosed: evidence found.

    CVE published 1 Apr 2026

  2. Detectable: no evidence on record.

    No public nuclei template indexed

  3. Weaponised: no evidence on record.

    No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB

  4. Exploited in the wild: no evidence on record.

    Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation

  5. Observed by OffSeq Mirage: no evidence on record.

    No attack traffic recorded by OffSeq Mirage sensors

A missing step is not evidence of safety. Sources: cve.org (opens in a new tab), the Metasploit, Exploit-DB and nuclei-templates index as of 26 Oct 2026.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

ProductAffectedFixed in
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux@6.17.0-19.19?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-19.19
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-19.19
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws@6.17.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1009.9
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1009.9
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure@6.17.0-1010.10?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1010.10
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1010.10
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@6.17.0-1017.17?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • 6.17.0-1003.3 – 6.17.0-1017.17
10 affected builds
Fixed in–
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp@6.17.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1009.9
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1009.9
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle@6.17.0-1009.9?arch=source&distro=questingOther threatsAffected
  • <6.17.0-1009.9
Fixed in
  • 6.17.0-1009.9

Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.

AI-suggested

A patch is available and should be applied to affected Linux kernel versions. The vendor advisory from Ubuntu confirms that this issue has been fixed. Systems running the affected versions should be updated promptly to incorporate the official fix.

Description

A side-effect bug in the Linux kernel's AppArmor security module was fixed. The match_char() macro used in AppArmor's DFA matching evaluated its character parameter multiple times, causing the string pointer to advance incorrectly and leading to out-of-bounds reads. This flaw could result in memory corruption and potentially allow local attackers to escalate privileges or cause denial of service. The issue affects specific Linux kernel versions and has been addressed in a security update.

References

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