CVE-2026-46169: Linux kernel · hfsplus: fix uninit-value by validating catalog record size
Affects Linux kernelSource GCVE Database
Not known to be exploited · CVSS 5.5 Medium · fixed in 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 : 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 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1123.132~20.04.1, 5.15.0-1122.131~20.04.1 +75
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 28 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 LTSlinuxpkg:deb/ubuntu/linux?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-awspkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-aws?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azurepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-azure-fdepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-azure-fde?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gcppkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gcp?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther threats | Affected
| Fixed in
|
Ubuntu 26.04 LTSlinux-gkepkg:deb/ubuntu/linux-gke?arch=source&distro=resoluteOther 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
A patch is available and fixed versions include Linux kernel 5.15.0-1117.124~20.04.1 and later. Users should upgrade to these or newer kernel versions to remediate this issue. No additional mitigation is required as the fix addresses the root cause by validating record sizes and initializing memory defensively.
Description
A vulnerability in the Linux kernel's HFS+ filesystem driver was fixed by validating catalog record sizes to prevent use of uninitialized memory. The issue was that hfs_brec_read() did not properly verify that the on-disk record size matched the expected size, allowing partial reads that left uninitialized data. This uninitialized data could then be used in string comparison functions, triggering kernel memory sanitizer warnings. The fix introduces stricter size validation and defensive initialization to prevent this condition.
References
- ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2026-46169 (opens in a new tab)
- cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-46169 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/linus/b6b592275aeff184aa82fcf6abccd833fb71b393 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/61a790974ff7e533acbceca06c7d02f22bf96d4d (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/93e8d613f1a01b6637f387cc93f184cf7fb881d6 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/a420904450962a562ad053a41a53a27755021b48 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/b6b592275aeff184aa82fcf6abccd833fb71b393 (opens in a new tab)
- git.kernel.org/stable/c/c91bbd6193c70a02c50c22e0fb1f60c3c5bd053a (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8566-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8568-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8569-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8567-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8593-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8574-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8596-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8603-1 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8595-2 (opens in a new tab)
- ubuntu.com/security/notices/USN-8606-1 (opens in a new tab)