CVE-2026-43240: Linux kernel · x86/kexec: add a sanity check on previous kernel's ima kexec buffer
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1 : update Linux kernel when convenient.
Data as of 26 Oct 2026, 17:16 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.
- Patch
- Available – fixed in 6.8.0-1066.69~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1070.78~22.04.1, 6.8.0-1068.75~22.04.1 +22
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:HExploitation evidence
Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 6 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 |
|---|---|---|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde@7.0.0-1008.8?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | 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– |
Check your own hosts for these packages with threat-finder (opens in a new tab), our free open-source scanner.
AI-suggested
An official fix is available and should be applied. The Ubuntu security advisory USN-8903-1 confirms that this and other Linux kernel vulnerabilities have been addressed in updated kernel packages. Users should update to the fixed kernel versions provided by their distribution to remediate this issue.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's x86 kexec implementation could cause a kernel panic when the second-stage kernel is booted with a limiting command line, due to improper validation of the carried over IMA measurement list buffer. This flaw has been fixed by adding a sanity check on the previous kernel's IMA kexec buffer to ensure it falls within valid memory bounds.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-43240 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-43240 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/c5489d04337b47e93c0623e8145fcba3f5739efd (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8903-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8905-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8906-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8904-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8903-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8905-2 (opens in a new tab)