CVE-2026-43016: Linux kernel · bpf: sockmap: Fix use-after-free of sk->sk_socket in sk_psock_verdict_data_ready().
Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 7.8 High · fixed in af95bc39a83d82ae6ad253986335037256888b3f : patch Linux kernel soon.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:30 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.
- CISA SSVC
- Exploitation
- No evidence of active exploitation and no public proof of concept
- Automatable
- Attackers cannot reliably automate steps 1–4 of the kill chain
- Technical impact
- Total control over the software or total information disclosure
CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-10-16.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in af95bc39a83d82ae6ad253986335037256888b3f, ad8391d37f334ee73ba91926f8b4e4cf6d31ea04, 68187f18a89be4b6237d28ae1313b5adf76238c6 +2
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 1 May 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
Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.
Affected software
| Product | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in
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| LinuxLinux | Affected
| Fixed in– |
AI-suggested
A fix for this vulnerability is available and has been applied in specific Linux kernel commits. Users and administrators should update to a Linux kernel version that includes these fixes. There are no vendor advisories indicating that no action is required or that the issue is already mitigated without patching. Therefore, applying the official patches is the recommended mitigation.
Description
CVE-2026-43016 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Linux kernel's BPF sockmap implementation. It occurs due to improper handling of the sk->sk_socket pointer in the sk_psock_verdict_data_ready() function, which can lead to accessing freed memory. This flaw was reported by syzbot and involves AF_UNIX sockets where the peer socket's sk_socket might be freed after an RCU grace period despite reference counting. The vulnerability has been fixed in specific Linux kernel commits.
References
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/8d597e3e74027900ffa81b8ff47ab51999a3e110 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/68187f18a89be4b6237d28ae1313b5adf76238c6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/18861f87a043e78b1f901cae4237e755ed7ef095 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/af95bc39a83d82ae6ad253986335037256888b3f (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/ad8391d37f334ee73ba91926f8b4e4cf6d31ea04 (opens in a new tab)