VulnerabilityPublished 28 May 2026Updated 6 Nov 2026

CVE-2026-46172: Linux kernel · ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap()

Affects Linux kernelSource CVE Database V5

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Not known to be exploited · fixed in c2efc4956981066df2fef1cc77391b523db6d8e4 : update Linux kernel when convenient.

Data as of 6 Nov 2026, 16:34 UTC

Severity

Unrated

Rated by Threat Radar · No CVSS score from NVD or the CNA

Thin evidence

One scorer or none

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: Limited control over the software or limited information exposure

CISA SSVC assessment, 2026-11-06.

Patch

Available – fixed in c2efc4956981066df2fef1cc77391b523db6d8e4, bc0fcb9823cd0894934cf968b525c575833d7078, a0721bcd72641c32b281f227a94505b31cf54117 +5

Exploitation evidence

Disclosed: evidence found.
CVE published 28 May 2026
Detectable: no evidence on record.
No public nuclei template indexed
Weaponized: 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 6 Nov 2026.

Disclosed: The CVE record is public on cve.org. Its publication is t = 0.
Detectable: A public nuclei template can find exposed instances, for defenders and attackers alike.
Weaponized: A Metasploit exploit module or Exploit-DB entry exists (Metasploit scanner modules do not count), or CISA SSVC or the CVSS exploit maturity reports a public proof of concept.
Exploited in the wild: CISA KEV lists it, CISA SSVC rates exploitation active, or a source reports attacks.
Observed by OffSeq Mirage: OffSeq Mirage honeypot sensors recorded attack traffic for this CVE, or found exposed hosts without attack traffic.

Moments are spaced evenly, not to scale; a dashed line marks a gap of six months or more. Deltas count from t = 0. Sources that give only a date (CISA KEV, Exploit-DB, or a time of exactly 00:00Z) read “same day” rather than hours. Metasploit modules carry the flaw’s disclosure date, not their release date, and nuclei templates carry no date, so both appear above but not on the timeline.

What to do

Upgrade to a fixed release listed under Affected software.

Affected software

Product	Affected	Fixed in
LinuxLinux	Affected ≥ 0146dca70b877b73c5fd9c67912b8a0ca8a7bac7, < c2efc4956981066df2fef1cc77391b523db6d8e4	Fixed in c2efc4956981066df2fef1cc77391b523db6d8e4
LinuxLinux	Affected ≥ 0146dca70b877b73c5fd9c67912b8a0ca8a7bac7, < bc0fcb9823cd0894934cf968b525c575833d7078	Fixed in bc0fcb9823cd0894934cf968b525c575833d7078
LinuxLinux	Affected ≥ 0146dca70b877b73c5fd9c67912b8a0ca8a7bac7, < a0721bcd72641c32b281f227a94505b31cf54117	Fixed in a0721bcd72641c32b281f227a94505b31cf54117
LinuxLinux	Affected ≥ 0146dca70b877b73c5fd9c67912b8a0ca8a7bac7, < a20b34f6e854fe6f2aa82528fae7a88759919eb4	Fixed in a20b34f6e854fe6f2aa82528fae7a88759919eb4
LinuxLinux	Affected ≥ 0146dca70b877b73c5fd9c67912b8a0ca8a7bac7, < 870560015ce6e0d8f841c6a8aba33c44be52c727	Fixed in 870560015ce6e0d8f841c6a8aba33c44be52c727
LinuxLinux	Affected ≥ 0146dca70b877b73c5fd9c67912b8a0ca8a7bac7, < 554c9b090c8ac5b1c5c507f4badf8d5d0c9c6e13	Fixed in 554c9b090c8ac5b1c5c507f4badf8d5d0c9c6e13

Description

In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: ipv6: xfrm6: release dst on error in xfrm6_rcv_encap() xfrm6_rcv_encap() performs an IPv6 route lookup when the skb does not already have a dst attached. ip6_route_input_lookup() returns a referenced dst entry even when the lookup resolves to an error route. If dst->error is set, xfrm6_rcv_encap() drops the skb without attaching the dst to the skb and without releasing the reference returned by the lookup. Repeated packets hitting this path therefore leak dst entries. Release the dst before jumping to the drop path.

References

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