CVE-2026-23437: Linux kernel · net: shaper: protect late read accesses to the hierarchy
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 14:05 UTC
- EPSS
- 0.1% chance of exploitation in 30 days – higher than 2% of CVEsExploit Prediction Scoring System: the likelihood attackers will use this flaw soon.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 3 Apr 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponised: no evidence on record.
No public exploit code indexed in Metasploit or Exploit-DB
Exploited in the wildExploited: no evidence on record.
Not in CISA KEV and no source reports exploitation
Observed by OffSeq MirageSeen by 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
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 25.10linuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Ubuntu 25.10linux-oraclepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-oracle?arch=source&distro=questingOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
Description
In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: net: shaper: protect late read accesses to the hierarchy We look up a netdev during prep of Netlink ops (pre- callbacks) and take a ref to it. Then later in the body of the callback we take its lock or RCU which are the actual protections. This is not proper, a conversion from a ref to a locked netdev must include a liveness check (a check if the netdev hasn't been unregistered already). Fix the read cases (those under RCU). Writes needs a separate change to protect from creating the hierarchy after flush has already run.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-23437 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-23437 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/0f9ea7141f365b4f27226898e62220fb98ef8dc6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/0f9ea7141f365b4f27226898e62220fb98ef8dc6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/348758ba74e6a348299965b16a97cfb817545cc0 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/581eee0890a8bde44f1fb78ad3e70502a897d583 (opens in a new tab)